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Lissywollen Direct Provision centre, Co Westmeath Asylum Archive

'Deeply concerned': Calls for vulnerability assessments for asylum seekers

These assessments are legally required.

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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    Mute Stephen Carslake
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    Jun 9th 2022, 3:46 PM

    Lets hope the unions do a good job and not sell the workers down the drain.

    260
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    Mute lilolil
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    Jun 9th 2022, 3:54 PM

    And of course our representatives will benefit of course from these increases, god help them they’re struggling!

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    Mute Michael Nolan
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    Jun 9th 2022, 4:04 PM

    And so it begins the votes for sale event is back

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    Mute Michael Nolan
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    Jun 9th 2022, 4:06 PM

    What this country needs us a change and none of the above is gonna give it to us …..can’t believe

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    Mute Gavin Conran
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    Jun 9th 2022, 4:55 PM

    @Michael Nolan: So who will?

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    Mute Michael Nolan
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    Jun 10th 2022, 3:20 PM

    @Gavin Conran: some times you have to make a leap of faith …..this last time I took it with fg and labour . ..burned me Instead of the bond holders …there’s not many left that I haven’t voted for …don’t get me started in the greens in 08

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    Mute Bob Murphy
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    Jun 9th 2022, 5:22 PM

    The security Inustry thought they eaare getting a 30ent per hour pay rise 4 years ago but the big companies who could afford it took it to the courts. Still working in the security industry. Still no pay rise

    39
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    Mute Stealth
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    Jun 10th 2022, 1:05 AM

    @Bob Murphy: it was 3 small companies that took it to court. The big ones were all in favour of it.

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    Mute Paul Owens
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    Jun 9th 2022, 6:09 PM

    Some of these public servant’s are worth a hell of a lot more than a lot of others,some real wastes of space in a lot of those jobs,get rid of those permanent contracts and employ a lot of them yearly and I guarantee soon see the benefits.

    51
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    Mute Tomo
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    Jun 9th 2022, 8:14 PM

    @Paul Owens: So you want public servants and all of the decisions to come from people who are employed on a yearly basis? I wonder how much of a worse state the government departments would be in if they had new people coming in every single year, with no training.

    Sick of seeing people blame civil servants for the mess the country is in. The majority of civil servants are hard at work every day just as much as the private sector. It’s not as cushy as some suggest, especially the wages many of them are on. It’s the government who ultimately calls the shots on everything, they are to blame for the issues.

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    Mute Paul Owens
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    Jun 9th 2022, 8:29 PM

    @Tomo: it’s estimated 40.000 have little or nothing to do everyday,they take no risks in life with their jobs,their salary paid by people living in the real world,they can’t be moved where they are needed or they go to HR, promotion if u have a pulse,lazy a holes most of them,and by the way I work in the public service,,,half them should be sacked

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    Mute Willie
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    Jun 9th 2022, 8:58 PM

    @Paul Owens:
    Estimated by whom
    Have you a link for the source of this figure

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    Mute Paul Owens
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    Jun 9th 2022, 9:07 PM

    @Willie: No I don’t sorry,but I am surprised it’s 40.000, could be more,,I work in public service and half do f,,all and other half do all the work,,the higher u go it’s gets worse,there are tons u can do in public service to make it a lot more efficient,it’s a joke,I worked abroad for 3 years and it’s amazing what a 2 year contract will do to people to get their ass moving,,stop the permanent contracts to start with.

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    Mute Maurice Mulcahy
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    Jun 10th 2022, 3:11 PM

    @Paul Owens: again as @Willie was saying where you getting the 40,000 figure from?

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    Mute Jonathan O'Riordan
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    Jun 9th 2022, 6:11 PM

    All the time the private sector will go out on the wrong side

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    Mute Niall Lee
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    Jun 10th 2022, 12:25 PM

    All public service workers should be getting around 8 percent pay increase

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    Mute Stealth
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    Jun 10th 2022, 1:20 AM

    CPI since my last increase in Sep 2018 has gone up 8.8% yet theres no sign of a resolution to the security ERO in sight.
    The current rate is 11.65 and I think at a minimum it should be increased by circa 10% to €12.80 immediately if not €13

    Those in public service have job security, pensions and other benefits the private sector don’t particularly those of us at the low end who are feeling it more then anyone above us on €30k+ a year

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    Mute Mickety Dee
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    Jun 10th 2022, 7:15 AM

    @Stealth: The public service pension isn’t with a lot at the low end as it is better off against the state pension and there is a pension Levy and contribution

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    Mute Mickety Dee
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    Jun 10th 2022, 7:16 AM

    @Mickety Dee: *worth *netted

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