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MIGRANT RIGHTS GROUPS have expressed concern at a lack of vulnerability assessments available to people seeking asylum in Ireland.
Ireland is legally required to conduct these assessments, which aim to identify special reception needs for asylum seekers and refugees, since signing up to the EU Reception Conditions directive last year.
Around 1,700 people have claimed asylum in Ireland since July 2018, Nick Henderson of the Irish Refugee Council has said, “many of whom have been in very difficult conditions in emergency centres,” he added.
Since September, the Reception & Integration Agency has accommodated international asylum applicants in emergency set-ups, gradually moving some to more permanent Direct Provision centres.
The Department of Justice & Equality has paid nearly €7 million to private contractors and businesses since September for the use of these premises and for providing on-site services.
Campaigners and NGOs have, however, criticised the instability of locating asylum seekers in hotels and B&Bs in remote areas, raising concerns about the increase of people living in emergency accommodation and the level of service provision.
In addition to a lack of vulnerability assessments available, specific concerns have been raised about the remote locations of hotels and B&Bs, a lack of educational access for children and facilities available to people.
“Each person, under law, should have had this [vulnerability] assessment within 30 days of making their asylum application, to identify if they are vulnerable and what additional supports they need,” Henderson has said.
“This has not happened.”
‘Clearly in need’
Increased pressure on RIA – which is responsible for overseeing the Department of Justice & Equality’s accommodation portfolio and providing initial services for asylum seekers and refugees entering Ireland – has meant sourcing emergency set-ups, according to a department spokesperson.
With Ireland’s Direct Provision centres mostly at capacity, there are currently over 500 people living in 19 hotels and B&Bs in eight counties – including 88 children.
The eight organisations – including MASI and Spirasi – calling for vulnerability assessments to be implemented have said that LGBTQI+ people as well as victims of torture and trafficking are at risk without these assessments.
“Some of the international protection applicants we come across are clearly in need of such and we fear the longer it takes to assess their needs might lead to a deterioration of their physical & mental health,” Reuben Hambakachere of migrant rights group Cultúr has said.
“An early vulnerability assessment will identify the appropriate supports and reduce the sufferings of many who arrive at our shores in need of all the support they could get”.
The group Spirasi, which works victims of torture, has said that people are often not identified until they’re months or years into the process of seeking protection in Ireland while Nasc, the Migrant and Refugee Rights Centre, has said it’s “deeply concerned” at the continued lack of vulnerability assessments.
NASC CEO Fiona Finn said “this assessment is a legal obligation not an optional extra”.
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I get it about us taking our fair share of EU refugees, fair system in my eyes. But for those not distributed via this program, how is Ireland your first stop when fleeing a war torn country? Where do we draw the line and start calling these people for what they are: economic migrants?
@Sean Murphy: how do you know this ? Have you insider knowledge? Have you met migrants and made that judgement yourself ? What about what we call the undocumented in the US are they not the same ?
@John Kelly: how do I know what? I was asking a question. How is Ireland your first destination upon fleeing somewhere like Somalia, Lebanon, Syria, southern Nigeria, etc? I’m not against refugees, as I stated I think the EUs system of redistribution of Syrian refugees to member states based on population is a fair system. But not all refugees are here via that system.
@Sean Murphy: Maybe they read the erroneous Ireland of the Welcomes mag.
@John Kelly: they go through several countries before applying to Ireland, last time I looked Ireland was not next to a war zone.
@John Kelly: yes the Irish in America if undocumented are illegal too
@Sean Murphy: its the cheap ryan air flights people can get to fly here
@John Kelly: yes John- some of us have inside knowledge. It’s called a map
If you look at it you will see that because we are an island and have no direct flights to war torn countries, the only conclusion is that many people pass by other sanctuary countries to get here.
@Gus Sheridan: and I personally know a few who were thrown straight into detention, had their possessions seized and were deported after a few months in the cooler
@John Kelly: what’s the big deal if they did pass through other countries? They are here now and need help. Should be treated right and made feel welcome.
@John Kelly: u kinda of answered your own question there, No they are not the same they are undocumented because they went there illegally they didn’t enter as refugees
20% of people that are homless in ireland were born outside the EU if you include all non nationals it would make up to and over half the people who are currently homless in ireland.. This is an unpleasant truth of our homless crisis and im sure my coment will be deleted as it does not fit the PC leftwing narrative.
@Humphrey Harold Haddington: Where did you get that statistic, bud? If not the EU, where are they from?
Outside of the EU I guess.
Outside of the EU I guess.
@Humphrey Harold Haddington: thats terrible. We should be providing accomodation for them and get them off the streets.
@M: Countries out side of the European Union.
@Humphrey Harold Haddington: Oh that’s too specific for me and you’re talking out of your h0le.
@M: Countries outside the EU.
Let’s have the same for our irish people
@Mary Brennan: we do
@tooler doogan:
Clearly if we don’t have the money to place asylum seekers in good accommodations Then clearly we can’t afford to take them in No?
The Direct Provision system we have in place is in need of a rethink and allowing these migrants enter the workforce should be made a priority.
@andrew: Totally agree with you all migrants in direct provision should be allowed to work and they could pay rent towards there stay and pay for their own solicitors…
@andrew: No. Processing their claims and making a decision in 3 months, and ending the rights to numerous appeals should be the priority
@andrew: assessing their claim quickly, and acting accordingly should be the No1 priority.
As for vunerability question, its a given that all are vunerable so why demand a bias towards LGBQI++++???
@andrew: Asylum seekers do have the right to work. Over 2500 have granted the right to work since it was introduced since last July. They however still choose to/due to the housing crisis do not move out of direct provision.
Close off citizenship and send them home once their country of origin is on the mend. While here they should pay higher taxes to contribute to citizens pensions at a later date. Just one cost of the assistance we provide.
have your say