O'Gorman prefers people to leave direct provision than charge rent

The minister said that his department has taken 'very substantial measures' to increase the number of people who move on from the asylum system

Members of the public pass tents belonging to asylum seekers along the Grand Canal, as news reports indicate the number of tents has now increased to above 100. Picture: Sasko Lazarov/ RollingNews.ie

Measures to move 6,000 people who have gone through the asylum system out of direct provision are being ramped up, Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman has said.

As the Government examines proposals that could see those granted leave to remain charged to stay in direct provision, Mr O’Gorman said he would prefer to see people leave this accommodation instead of charging them rent.

He has also promised that “additional capacity” will be available this week to accommodate asylum seekers.

It comes as around 100 tents remain pitched at Dublin’s Grand Canal, as the department struggles to accommodate those arriving here each week.

The number of people who are moving out of international protection after receiving leave to remain has increased this year.

However, those arriving in Ireland still outnumber this — with over 8,000 asylum seekers having arrived here already this year.

Mr O’Gorman said the department has taken “very substantial measures” to increase the number of people who move on.

In 2022, around 700 people with status moved out of direct provision accommodation. This increased to 2,000 last year.

Mr O’Gorman said that, in the first four months of this year, around 1,400 people have moved out of direct provision into other accommodation.

“My priority isn’t to keep people there and have them pay rent, my priority is to support people to move on.

Integration Minister Roderic O'Gorman said that, in the first four months of this year, around 1,400 people have moved out of direct provision into other accommodation . Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

“I think we’ve demonstrated a good track record in terms of speeding that up and supporting people in doing so.”

However, Mr O’Gorman said faster processing is resulting in more people getting leave to remain.

“There are people gaining status now, because of the improvements the Department of Justice has introduced.

We’ve contracted in a number of NGOs to give specific advice and support to people who are looking to move out of our accommodation.

Mr O’Gorman said his department is constantly working to secure extra accommodation, and additional capacity will come on stream this week.

He said Thornton Hall, which was discussed as a new location by the Cabinet last week, is an example of a “multi-agency response”.

Initially tented accommodation will be put in place on the site, which had been earmarked for a prison, with rapid-build units expected to be rolled out later.

Asked when the site might come into use, Mr O’Gorman said: “We have teams who have been analysing the site late last week and over the weekend in terms of capacity. I don’t have absolute clarity on that.”

While part of the Thornton Hall site does take in an archeological area, Mr O’Gorman said that any accommodation would not be in this area.

Mr O’Gorman expects 22,000 asylum seekers to arrive here this year. Responding to reports that Finance Minister Michael McGrath recently told a private party meeting that up to 30,000 asylum seekers could arrive here, Mr O’Gorman said these projections were based on a particularly high week and have not been replicated.