The CEO of the Irish Refugee Council, Nick Henderson, has spoken out regarding his fears and concerns for asylum seekers in Ireland living in tents. 

These fears were sparked by a number of anti-immigration protests which took place in Dublin City Centre, which saw tents, furniture and belongings of asylum seekers being set on fire in the street.

Nick Henderson, speaking on RTÈ Radio 1, said that there had been a “clear abdication of statutory responsibilities” by the Department of Housing in regards to providing accommodation services to asylum seekers in Ireland. 

At the beginning of this month, over 580 asylum seekers were without a roof over their heads. They have been living in tents and on the street.

Nick Henderson also made a point that three weeks ago, the High Court found that it is unlawful for the State not to provide accommodation to asylum seekers. He told RTÈ Radio 1

 “there are ad hoc supports in the city through different organisations but they are already very stretched”...

He said that The Irish Refugee Council has written to the Department of Housing asking them to instruct local authorities to expand their support for homelessness services so that they can assist asylum seekers… Henderson then told them “we haven’t had a response to that letter”...

As of March 2023, the number of people in homelessness in Ireland has risen to (yet another) record high, with 11,988 people accessing emergency accommodation. These numbers are an increase of 246 from February. 

These figures do not include the hundreds of asylum seekers sleeping rough on our streets.

Sinn Fèin housing spokesperson Eoin Ò Broin said these figures show a “significant increase” in all cohorts of homelessness and asked that the Government reinstate a moratorium on evictions. 

Cian O’Callaghan, housing spokesperson for Social Democrats also called for the ban on evictions to be reinstated, stating that it was “never too late to reverse a bad decision”.

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Written by Molly Hunt, 18th May 2023