In December 2020, 371 refugees arrived in Ireland. These individuals had fled war, persecution, and humanitarian crises in their homelands, seeking a better life in Ireland. However, their hopes of starting anew have been shattered as they find themselves homeless and struggling to survive. With limited resources and support, these newcomers face an uncertain future, highlighting the urgent need for a comprehensive and compassionate approach to refugee integration in Ireland.
According to the Irish Refugee Council (IRC), there are currently 371 refugees in Ireland who have nowhere to sleep. The IRC also revealed that only one international protection applicant that has arrived in Ireland since March 8 has been housed. The government had indicated two months ago that it would not be able to accommodate all arrivals “for a number of weeks”. Nick Henderson, the CEO of the council, said the organization warned such a situation would occur back in January, and “unfortunately, those concerns have been borne out.”
Henderson added that “there’s several things that make the current situation of really very grave concern to us. Firstly, it seems that while people were being re-accommodated or offered accommodation in January and February, it seems now that only one person has actually been accommodated since March 8. So people are without accommodation or homeless for a longer period of time. And then secondly, also we were told on Thursday in writing that couples wouldn’t be accommodated.”
Previously, couples were being accommodated, and it was just single males that were not offered accommodation. Many of the people now approaching the IRC for help are Muslim, Mr. Henderson said, pointing out the holy month of Ramadan has begun. “You can imagine how difficult it would be to fast and also be in a situation of homelessness. We believe this is a breach of Ireland’s international obligations, but also very importantly, Ireland’s own domestic obligations under the reception conditions directive.”
International protection applicants are typically given a €25 voucher for a supermarket and then “left to fend for themselves on the streets of Dublin,” Henderson said. He also revealed that “a weekly stipend of €38.80 is in place for refugees, but as of last week, people have not been able to access this payment and were instead being directed towards Intreo offices to, “try and apply for an additional needs payment which is quite a technical payment and takes time to be issued”.”
Almost all international protection applicants are also asked to give up their passports on arrival in Ireland, which prohibits them from accessing hostels or hotels, as typically these businesses require ID before accepting a booking, Henderson said. The IRC has also communicated that to government agencies, not just the Department of Children but different government departments such as health, housing, and social protection. The organization has said that if somebody is going to be homeless, then supports and services should be put in place, and are relatively straightforward things that can be done.
This situation has drawn significant criticism, with many individuals and organizations calling on the government to take immediate action to alleviate the refugee crisis. The government’s inaction has not only violated international and national laws but has put many individuals’ lives at risk, especially during the holy month of Ramadan. The government will need to act promptly and decisively to ensure that these individuals are provided with suitable accommodation and support. Failure to do so would be a violation of their basic human rights and a significant blot on Ireland’s reputation as a leading voice in human rights and humanitarianism.
