Minister for Integration Roderic O’Gorman says the confirmation due later today that there are at least 1,000 male asylum seekers without a bed in Ireland is a ”really concerning situation”.
Speaking at the launch in Dublin of the new agency Cuan, for Domestic Sexual and Gender Based Violence, Mr O’Gorman told RTÉ News that ”the focus in recent weeks has been to ensure
we can provide accommodation for female and family applicants”.
This involves sourcing additional accommodation on a weekly basis and the government says it is able to meet those numbers at the moment.
However, Minister O’Gorman acknowledged that it is “tight” in terms of the provision of accommodation for families and female applicants.
”A comprehensive strategy” in terms of accommodation will be brought before cabinet in the next couple of weeks, he said.
He added that there is a recognition in government that the existing system needs to be reformed and a core of state owned accommodation is required.
”In the short term there is a need to provide rapid accommodation for people who are arriving in Ireland and indeed for people who aren’t being currently accommodated right now,” Minister O’Gorman said.
He said detailed discussions are taking place across government right now regarding provision.
Mr O’Gorman said the strategy, which will soon be presented to cabinet, will include the provision of shorter term elements so that everyone who needs accommodation should be able to access it.
