Dublin: Minister for Integration, Roderic O’Gorman, revealed that Ireland has now surpassed a total of 100,000 refugees, notably with 74,000 individuals seeking refuge from Ukraine. However, concerns arise as the influx of asylum seekers from various countries has surged sixfold in the past four years, escalating from four thousand to twenty-four thousand. Predominantly, refugees hail from Algeria, Georgia, and Sudan.
Minister O’Gorman also acknowledged a critical situation where available accommodation facilities for the arriving refugees are insufficient. The government, aside from offering shelter, provides sustenance and a stipend of 30 euros for eligible applicants. The minister emphasized that this amount would be increased in response to the rising cost of living. Furthermore, collaborative efforts with the Gardaí and homeless charities are underway to identify vulnerable refugees.
Addressing a Dublin event, the Integration Minister assured that no accommodation requests had been declined thus far, but he warned of an imminent shortage in the coming days.
Despite the humanitarian efforts, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission cautioned against implementing an April High Court ruling related to the human rights of those seeking international protection. The court’s judgement deemed the failure to provide suitable conditions for international protection applicants as unlawful, constituting a violation of the right to dignity under the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
The influx of Ukrainians alone has reached 700 to 800 individuals per week, necessitating the Irish government’s commitment to accommodating as many as possible in response to the ongoing crisis.
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