Government 'has exhausted all options in bid to house asylum-seekers'
Finance Minister Michael McGrath said Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman (above) made it clear to Cabinet that 'we are in a very serious situation and could potentially within days run out of accommodation options'. Picture: Marc O'Sullivan
The Government has “exhausted” all options in sourcing accommodation for asylum seekers including the use of ships.
Officials at the Department of Integration are scrambling to find how to best support international protection applicants who face sleeping rough due to a lack of beds.
It’s understood officials have examined the use of community centres, halls, and ships in their efforts to find more shelter.
Finance Minister Michael McGrath said Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman made it clear to Cabinet that “we are in a very serious situation and could potentially within days run out of accommodation options".
Government sources are now concerned that asylum seekers who may be forced to sleep on the street will be violently targeted as anti-immigrant rhetoric ramps up.
A Government spokesperson said increased garda visibility will be present in the capital and will aim to protect everyone, including those who may end up sleeping rough.
Women and children who arrive in the country will be prioritised but single men may be left with no offer of shelter in the coming days.
Mr McGrath said: “We're in a very challenging situation when it comes to accommodation for those seeking international protection but also for Ukrainians coming here.
“We are stretching every resource at our disposal.
“We have had outstanding goodwill from the Irish people, many of them have opened their homes to provide accommodation for Ukrainians.
“But Minister O'Gorman and his team are facing a very challenging situation and we all work to support him and his officials to make sure that the basic level of accommodation can be provided to those who have to come to Ireland,” Mr McGrath said.
When asked if some asylum seekers may be homeless in the coming days, Mr McGrath said: "We don't want to see that happen and we will do everything we possibly can to make sure that there is accommodation for everybody, whether they be an IP applicant, somebody who comes here from Ukraine or somebody who has been living in Ireland, who finds themselves experiencing homelessness.
“So in the coming weeks there will be an enormous coordinated effort by government and all of our public agencies to make sure that there is accommodation and shelter.
“The weather is getting colder, and it's coming into a very difficult time of year for many and we do need to explore every possible avenue to make sure that people are not on our streets coming up to Christmas."
Mr McGrath said that Mr O’Gorman’s department is examining alternatives they can bring forward and what other options may be available.
He added: “So in due course, those will be shared by his department, I don't have the details of what those options are. But he did indicate to us that they were examining what other options might be available.”
Speaking in the Dáil, Justice Minister Helen McEntee said there are pressures with accommodation. She said asylum-seekers who want to work here are always welcome as well as those who are fleeing war.
“We have done everything in our power to respond... and to make sure people receive the help,” she added.
The Department of Integration has struggled to procure accommodation for international protection applicants in recent weeks with senior sources highlighting that recent protests have had a significant impact on their ability to secure both; the continuation of services and new accommodation.
