Asylum seekers in hotels for fourteen years

Families have been living in rooms in former hotels and hostels in Galway city for 14 years and have still not had their applications for asylum assessed.
But even more concerning is the fact that their children cannot access third level education despite having done very well in the recent Leaving Cert results .
It has prompted criticism of the Government that so many families living in city hotel bedrooms for almost a decade and a half are being ignored by the State.
A city councillor has said that residents in the city were not being afforded refugee status and therefore it impacted on their children availing of third level education.
According to Cllr Cathal O’Conchúir there are families living in hotel bedrooms in Galway city for 14 years awaiting for the applications for refugee status to be processed.
They are living under a system of ‘direct provision’ which provides them with accommodation and food as they await decisions of their asylum applications.
But Cllr. O’Conchúir said that while their children were given primary and secondary education, their access to third level college was not there.
He pointed out that some students received in excess of 500 points in their Leaving but now their education had come to a full stop.
“While they can go to college, it requires their parents to come up with at least €10,000 which they haven’t got. And it could cost even more than that . . . maybe up to €30,000 for some courses.
“Their parents are on €19 per week which obviously makes it impossible for them to afford third level education for their children.
“It is grossly unfair, unjust and shameful. They are not given assistance to complete third level education and they are prevented from engaging in normally family life,” Cllr. O’Conchúir added.
Direct Provision is intended to provide for the welfare of asylum seekers and their families as they await decisions on their asylum application.
It provides essential services, medical care and accommodation and board with three meals a day provided at set times.
For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.