The government say they’ll do all they can to help migrants who come into the country over the coming days, weeks and months into the new year.
A 24-hour hotline has been set up for applicants for international protection who are unable to find accommodation at the Citywest transit hub, which is closed to new arrivals over the Christmas period and into the new year.
Alternative arrangements will be made for persons seeking international protection during the holiday season, as well as for Ukrainian refugees arriving between 23 and 27 December and 1 and 2 January.
A spokesperson for the Department for Children, Equality, Disability, Inclusion and Youth said newly arrived applicants for international protection “will be assigned to designated accommodation” via the 24-hour toll-free number
The spokesman said it was “doing everything we can to avoid a situation where people are going without accommodation”, reports RTE.
However, RTÉ News understands that the department is preparing a contingency plan for ‘where there is no accommodation available’, which has already happened twice.
When this happens, RTÉ understands that newly arrived asylum-seekers will be instructed to “regularly” contact an International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) email address “for the latest information on any available accommodation”.
Asylum seekers who became temporarily homeless in September and again in October when Citywest closed to new arrivals were advised to do the same.
The International Protection Office, which welcomes newly arrived asylum seekers on weekdays, is also closed for much of the Christmas period.
It is only open on December 28 and 29 before closing again until January 3.
The IPO door will be one of the places where the 24-hour helpline will be posted this holiday season.
The number itself is the same as the Dublin Regional Homelessness Executive, but callers are offered two separate services and international protection applicants are advised to select the Asylum Seekers Line option.
“While acknowledging the work done by IPAS in 2022, it is essential that people have access to the protection process and accommodation during the holiday period,” Nick Henderson, CEO of the Irish Refugee Council said, reports RTE.
A different system applies to Ukrainian refugees who come to Ireland during this period.
Newly arrived Ukrainian refugees will be taken directly to designated temporary reception centers and then transferred to the Citywest transit hub once it reopens for processing.
Announcing the temporary closure of Citywest to new arrivals over the Christmas period on Friday, a ministry statement said state-provided housing “is very limited in Ireland at the moment both for Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection and for International Protection applicants” it should last until the beginning of January, reports RTE.
Meanwhile, the director of Ukrainian Action Ireland said he believes Ukrainians will continue to travel to Ireland to seek refuge, despite being aware of the issues surrounding housing here.
Mr Prymakov said it was “worst 10 months of Ukraine so far”, describing how people suffered a lot, losing their homes, jobs and loved ones.
“Some have lost it all. Certainly, it has been the darkest hour,” he said, reports RTE.
He explained some of the traditions surrounding Christmas for Ukrainians and how they celebrate Christmas Eve on January 6 and Christmas Day on January 7 as the population is mostly Orthodox Christian.
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