Irish Refugee Council warns of people returning to streets as cold weather shelter ends
The Department advised those staying there to leave with all their belongings by 10 a.m. on Wednesday, November 27. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins Photos
Dozens of international protection applicants (IPAs) accommodated at Dublin's Citywest because of cold weather have been told they must move out on Wednesday morning and are likely to end up sleeping rough as a result, the Irish Refugee Council has warned.
Applicants had been temporarily moved out of tents to accommodation at Citywest as part of a cold weather initiative amid icy conditions and low temperatures two weeks ago.
Last Tuesday, November 26, IPAs staying at the hub received an email from the Department of Integration stating that their “temporary placement” at the facility was no longer available.
The Department advised those staying there to leave with all their belongings by 10am on Wednesday, November 27.
However, the same cohort of people later received a second email advising that they should remain at Citywest “where a temporary offer of accommodation will continue for you until further notice."
According to the Irish Refugee Council, those staying at Citywest have now been advised to move out once again.
Speaking this morning, Irish Refugee Council CEO Nick Henderson said that the people affected will likely go back to the streets where they will have to sleep rough “to prove and demonstrate their need for accommodation."
Mr Henderson said his organisation was "extremely concerned" both that people were going back out onto the streets, and that they’re being required to do so to demonstrate their needs, "putting themselves in a really vulnerable position."
The Irish Refugee Council understood that the Government’s position was that they needed the beds in Citywest for surge capacity and to accommodate women and children, he said.
Mr Henderson stated there was capacity in the international protection system and said the weather forecast for the weekend was for cold, wet, and windy conditions.
They have asked affected applicants if they have been issued details regarding a cold weather initiative and if they can get a copy of such a policy.
“We presume if the temperature did get back down to what it was two weeks ago, then then they would be accommodated. But this is putting a sticking plaster on a system and an issue that is really, really chronic," he told RTÉ Radio’s .
"We're reaching rule of law territory and that the government have ultimately ignored three High Court judgments that very clearly state what are the obligations on the government to accommodate people," he added.
