Government looks to planning rules to expand housing options for asylum seekers

The Government has a planning exemption for under the EU’s Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection rules to house Ukrainians in a site in Stradbally. However, this currently does not apply for accommodating international protection applicants.

A spokesperson for Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman (pictured) has said that more clarification will be provided. Photograph: Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie

The Government is to examine planning rules which could allow asylum seekers to stay at large centres currently being used to house Ukrainians.

Louth TDs who attended a meeting with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar yesterday said he committed to examine if international protection applicants can be housed in empty beds in Ukrainian refugee accommodation.

A spokesperson for Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman has said clarification will be provided more generally on the “legal position” regarding changing accommodation used to house Ukrainians to international protection use. The Government is under significant pressure to secure accommodation for asylum-seekers as more than 1,000 continue to sleep rough on the streets.

A source pointed to the site in use at Stradbally, Co Laois, which the Government has a planning exemption for under the EU’s Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection rules for Ukrainians. However, this does not apply to accommodating international protection applicants. It is understood the Government is now examining planning rules to allow for IPAs to stay at similar sites.

In cases where private providers, such as hotels, are offering accommodation to the State for Ukrainians, it is up to the provider whether they are happy to switch to accommodating asylum seekers.

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Last night, a Cabinet source confirmed that discussions will have to take place on whether asylum seekers can be accommodated in empty beds across the country which is currently in use for Ukrainian accommodation.

The Stradbally site is to be designated as an accommodation centre for newly arrived Ukrainians who will have to adhere to the 90-day policy and will see weekly payments of €38.80 per adult and €29.90 per child. It is understood that Ukrainians currently at the marquee-style accommodation will be moved out before new arrivals are placed there.

The site has capacity to accommodate almost 1,000 people.

Children will likely not attend local schools due to the short duration of their stay, officials have said. But the contract holder, Pastures New Ltd — which leases and operates the property, can provide educational classes. The new lease will begin from this month until the end of June and it is understood the site will be given back ahead of the Electric Picnic festival in August.

'Personal circumstances'

When asked how Ukrainians who are receiving under €39 every week will be able to afford and find alternative accommodation after 90 days, the Taoiseach said that will “depend on their personal circumstances”.

He said Ukrainians are allowed to work here from the minute they arrive into the country, unlike asylum seekers. He said other Ukrainians will have friends and relatives they can stay with.

He added: “But we're not going to a situation whereby people are going to be turfed out of accommodation if they're not in position to accommodate themselves.”

Mr Varadkar also said the Government is continuing to work on the location of where new reception centres will be, but admitted it is “difficult to know how many we would need."

Meanwhile, Louth TDs said they did not learn anything new following a meeting with Mr Varadkar, Mr O’Gorman, and Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys regarding plans to use the D-Hotel in Drogheda to house asylum seekers.

It was agreed at the meeting that final clarification would be provided by Mr O’Gorman over the coming days on the possibility of dual use of the hotel, recognising the child protection and practical challenges that exist.