Government concerned about safety of asylum seekers as accommodation runs out

Tánaiste Micheál Martin said there is concern about the safety of those who cannot be accommodated.

The Government is concerned about the safety of those asylum seekers who will be forced to sleep rough as accommodation runs out.

The Department of Integration on Monday confirmed that all available accommodation has been taken and those arriving into Ireland face the prospect of sleeping on the streets.

Temperatures in the capital have hit freezing in recent days, but are due to climb to the high single digits from Wednesday.

However, speaking in Dublin on Monday, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said there is concern about the safety of those who cannot be accommodated.

“Obviously we’re very, very concerned about that and we will do everything we possibly can to avoid it.” Mr Martin said ministers will also consider proposals that would see unaccommodated international protection applicants get enhanced allowance payments. He said this had been proposed but not agreed by ministers.

The Tánaiste said the accommodation situation is “challenging”, adding that those claiming the Government could have foreseen the issue are adopting a “too simplistic” approach.

“We have about 100,000 Ukrainians, 70,000-odd of which we are accommodating via the state and about 26,000 international protection asylum seekers," he said.

“I think it’s a reflection of significant instability across the world where pressure is growing and continues to grow because of war and conflict, particularly in Ukraine but also the Middle East.

“As you know, I am back from Jordan and Egypt in recent times. The amount of migration that they have experienced because of the war in Syria and because of instability in Palestine itself all points to a very difficult scenario.

“So domestically here then, we have to do everything we possibly can to provide accommodation under our international legal obligations. And we will continue to do that and Government will be meeting this week again to assess the situation.” 

He added: “It’s not just in Ireland. This is happening across Europe, is happening across the United States.” 

He said New York City had seen severe pressure on its system due to migration.