A thorough response to the needs of homeless people seeking international protection has been demanded by the Irish Refugee Council (IRC), reports RTE.
A “nationwide shortage” led the Department of Integration to cease providing housing for male asylum seekers a year ago.
As of last Friday, more than 2,900 asylum applicants were still awaiting an accomodation offer.
Accommodation and support requirements, which are now handled by community volunteers, should be addressed by the Department of the Taoiseach, according to the IRC, reports RTE.
In order to eliminate the need for outreach workers to meet applicants at tents, it has also asked for the creation of more useful and effective methods, such as a 24-hour drop-in facility.
A High Court ruling in August concluded that the State had violated the law by neglecting to make accommodations for petitioners for international protection, reports RTE.
There were 259 unaccommodated petitioners for international protection when the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission started its case in December 2023.
That figure increased to 1,715 by the time the case was heard in May. The current time is 2,914.
Insights from 49 volunteers who completed an online poll on the risks they encounter when assisting protection seekers on Dublin’s streets are included in a study released by the IRC this morning, reports RTE.
Several of the female volunteers reported that far-right and anti-migrant organisations frequently harassed, stalked, abused, and physically attacked them.
One volunteer had been threatened with having their throat cut, while another had been struck in the face, reports RTE.
According to the IRC, far-right activists assert that they are protecting women from those seeking protection.
“However, female volunteers report their safety is most often threatened by individuals who are harassing and intimidating the applicants they are assisting,” it said, reports RTE.
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