Over the past two years, the number of asylum seekers arriving in Ireland has increased hugely. In November 2021, there were just over 7,200 international protection applicants being housed by the State. Today, there are more than 26,000 people in state accommodation. Meanwhile, another 75,000 Ukrainians are also in State-provided housing.
On Monday, the Government revealed it no longer had any beds left and that single male applicants arriving into Ireland would have to find their own accommodation. It’s the second time this year that asylum seekers will have to sleep rough due to the State’s inability to accommodate them.
And this latest shortfall comes in the wake of the Dublin riots, which were instigated by anti-immigrant and far right groups. During the riots, some former and still-operating accommodation centres for asylum seekers were targeted and vandalised.
Where will these new arrivals go and how safe will they be on the streets of the capital? And how effectively is the Government dealing with this crisis?
On today’s In the News podcast chief executive of the Irish Refugee Council Nick Henderson explains how we reached this point, why the situation is “a perfect storm” and what he says the Government should do next.
Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon.
