In the upcoming weeks, the government intends to deliberate additional limitations on benefits available to asylum seekers and refugees, as part of its strategy to decrease the influx and alleviate strain on the asylum system. The impending changes are anticipated to impact around 27,000 Ukrainian individuals, presently out of work and residing in state-funded serviced housing, including hotels and B&Bs which offer meals and other amenities. These individuals will experience a sharp decrease in their weekly benefits in six weeks, from €232 to under €39.
The changes have elicited a dismayed response from the Ukrainian embassy. The embassy alluded to the potential harm on vulnerable refugees, who may be pushed to return to Ukraine as a result of altered social protection benefits. The embassy statement emphasised the plight of certain groups, such as the elderly, women, children, and people with special needs, who find it particularly hard to secure employment and generally reside in rural areas. These individuals could be coerced into returning to Ukraine due to a major change in their welfare, despite the worsening security situation in regions such as Kharkiv and Sumy owing to Russian counterattacks.
However, a representative from the government defended the cuts, suggesting they are not a bid to repatriate Ukrainians. Yet, high-ranking officials have privately confessed to focussing their efforts on decreasing the number of migrants applying for asylum. Deterring asylum seekers by making the conditions less favourable is viewed as an essential part of their strategy to “sustain the migration system”, as quoted from the spokesman of the government.
The brave announcement from the government highlighted their intent to contemplate further benefit cuts for refugees and asylum seekers, as rising accommodation issues spur the erection of more tents along Dublin’s Grand Canal by asylum-seeking men without state-provided housing. The government stated that currently there is no plan to dismantle the nearly 50 tents pitched as of Tuesday evening, while it continues seeking alternatives to relocate them.
Following the Cabinet’s approval of certain measures, a declaration was released by the Government indicating that Roderic O’Gorman, the Minister for Integration, will oversee a “review of benefits for applicants seeking international protection, and deliver a report to the Government within a six week period.”
The Government will also be looking into other solutions such as imposing fines on airlines, enlarging the “safe country” directory, and restricting travel without a visa. Taoiseach Simon Harris has also hinted that the future accessibility of housing in direct provision centres for individuals with approved refugee status is likely to face scrutiny. Further to this, Mr Harris stated that the Government has plans to make more reductions in refugee benefits.
Mr Harris clarified to journalists, “Our review is not solely focused on payments, we are also examining an array of other supports and the interaction of the state with these provisions. To illustrate, there are numerous individuals in this country with established immigration status who are still inhabiting state-provided housing without contributing financially.”
The report also highlights that close to 100 individuals have been in the application process for more than two years, waiting for initial verdicts on their claims.