For the first time, the State is providing accommodations for over 30,000 asylum seekers, triggering the Government to consider a review of the support they offer to those not under direct provision. Data published by the Department of Integration on the night of Thursday revealed a significant increase in the number of people applying for international protection. As of May 7th this year, the applications have reached 7,667, up from 5,162 on March 31st, with an average 501 new applications each week in the past five weeks, higher than the initial 13-week average of 397.
Concerns have been privately voiced within department and agencies that the surge has not yet reached its peak. Last week, 610 applications were lodged at the International Protection Office, and this figure is expected to rise this week. On the table for the government is a review of the supports offered to asylum seekers. Currently, those outside direct provision receive a weekly allowance of €113.80. The Cabinet, however, is split on whether or not to modify this allowance, which some believe is more generous than the support provided in similarly situated EU nations. For example, France offers €99 each week to those without a place to stay, while Germany gives a basic rate of €85.
Taoiseach Simon Harris has assured that the era of asylum seekers being forced to dwell in tents on Dublin’s streets for weeks or months is over. His assurance came following a Thursday morning operation that moved 160 people from tents stationed next to the Grand Canal to other sites equipped with food and sanitation facilities.
During an operation at dawn, asylum seekers residing by the canal were presented with letters advising them that they were not authorised to stay in the area, and facing possible seizure of tents and legal consequences if they chose to remain. The document warned that non-compliance could lead to forceful removal and even arrest by An Garda Síochána (the Police).
Out of the 610 who sought asylum recently, 400 were women and children who have been provided with accommodation within IPAS centres. Regrettably, close to 200 men were not offered any shelters, leaving approximately 1,800 male asylum seekers without designated lodgings.
Tuesday evening saw The Lighthouse on Pearse Street catering to over 400 individuals, with the majority requesting necessities such as tents, sleeping bags, torches, and food. Workers at the forefront have observed an influx of applicants of late, notably hailing from Asian and Middle Eastern countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Jordan, Syria, and Palestine.
An official source within the Government suggested Thursday that the spike in applications may be correlated to anxieties generated in Britain post the removal of an asylum seeker to Rwanda which occurred just before local elections there.
A fresh agency will be appointed to furnish emergency lodging in 12-person military-style tents on public land, provisioned with basic sanitation, water, and electricity. A location under consideration for this purpose is the former Thornton Hall “super prison” site in North Dublin, which was previously evaluated as a potential site for Ukrainian refugees by the Department of Integration in the previous March.
At the same time, Fianna Fáil TD Barry Cowen has urged for random checks along the Border, swifter decisions about identifying additional safe origin nations and stepping up deportations. Despite being part of the ruling coalition, Mr Cowen severely criticizes their immigration policy, suggesting that his party Fianna Fáil is on the failing side of the discourse. He believes there should be random inspections by the police along the Border to detect illegal immigrants, expressing that “the figures will decrease, if the threat of apprehension exists.”