Money offer to leave tents posted ‘inadvertently’

Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys has said a sign advertising that International Protection Applicants could receive extra money if they left State tented accommodation was posted “inadvertently” and has been “subsequently taken down”.

The sign was raised in the Dáil yesterday and has been reported widely in the past 24 hours.

It said as the system is “currently experiencing a capacity shortage” it is “unable to accommodate all applicants”.

As such, the sign said if applicants want to leave the State’s tented accommodation, and therefore the State applicant process, “voluntarily”, they could receive the additional payment.

In return, if and when, the accommodation crisis is resolved they would be offered “standard accommodation”.

Asked about the poster by RTÉ News at an event today, Minister for Social Protection and Fine Gael deputy leader Heather Humphreys said several times that the poster was put up “inadvertently”.

She did not clarify if this meant the plan outlined in the poster is now not on offer.

Minister Humphreys added that, “I understand nobody who was moved today” availed of the offer.

She also rejected suggestions any offer of more money to people who leave State tented accommodation risked incentivising homelessness.

Minister Humphreys said, “no I don’t agree with that”.