The Department of Integration reports that the count of unaccommodated asylum seekers who have recently arrived ascended to 1,272. As per last Friday’s records, there was a surge of 169 this week, making the total number of international protection (IP) applicants devoid of state-provided accommodation since their inception at 1,103.
Due to difficulties in finding housing, the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) under the department stated in early December that they could only harbour the considerably vulnerable male asylum seekers. Many male asylum seekers were compelled to withstand the freezing temperatures in tents last week, not knowing if they will be given a bed, considering the ongoing cold weather forecast.
The department ensured that immediate resolutions were underway to supply temporary shelter to IP applicants over the weekend due to severe weather conditions.
The International Protection Office (IPO) square at the Dublin city centre witnessed several men, including those as young as 18, outside their tents anxiously awaiting information about weekend accommodation last week. More than 100 had spent the night in erected tents on pavements and lanes near the IPO offices, with the snow causing several to collapse.
The subsequent week saw the department faltering again in terms of housing the applicants, despite making intense efforts to attain emergency shelter due to severe scarcity. The department’s protocol insists that every male international protection applicant who reports to the IPO gets evaluated by the IPAS and HSE employees for pressing vulnerabilities and health concerns and are given preference for housing. In a case of failed accommodation, the department ensures a temporary increment of €75 to their daily expenditure allowance, thereby taking the weekly sum from €38.80 to €113.80 for all qualifying applicants.
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