Refugee crisis leaves state holding political hot potato

World of Politics with Harry McGee

The picture at Moran’s Red Cow Hotel last weekend was not one that would lift the soul. It showed conference rooms being used to provide emergency accommodation for asylum seekers, with mattresses scattered across the floors.

But it’s not a surprise; the numbers of refugees and people seeking international protection has gone through the roof in the first five months of the year.

There has been a 600 per cent increase in the number of people applying for international protection in Ireland in the first five months of 2022, compared to a similar period last year.

The number of people who have applied for asylum in Ireland in the first five months of 2022 is close to 5,000, which is almost twice the total of 2,649 for the entire 12 months of 2021.

This cohort of people is separate from the estimated 24,000 refugees who have been offered accommodation by the State or by private individuals.

You can’t but surmise that the increase in numbers is caused in part by the tough new policy in the UK where asylum seekers are being flown to Rwanda for processing.

In all there are 35,000 people (including those from Ukraine) in emergency or direct provision accommodation in Ireland in 2022, compared to only 6,500 people last year. The comprises 24,000 Ukrainians and 11,000 asylum seekers. It’s over five times the number, and it’s still only June.

That sheer volume has put authorities here under considerable strain to find adequate accommodation.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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