Former Knockalisheen Resident Says Govt Should Invest In Permanent Housing For Refugees

Clare FM

A former resident of a Clare direct provision centre has accused the Government of uprooting immigrants from their new communities due to policy failures. It follows a new report from the ESRI which shows that almost 6,000 refugees who have been granted status to remain are still living in direct provision centres due to the housing shortage. There are currently 907 International Protection Applicants living in Clare in centres across Ennis, Inch, Meelick, Tulla, Scariff and Lisdoonvarna. While, last month , figures released to Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara showed the state has now spent over €1.5bn housing International Protection Applicants since 2021. A former resident of the Knockalisheen Direct Provision Centre in Meelick, believes many Asylum seekers are living in sub standard conditions as the current government approach rewards providers hoping to make a "quick buck". Spokesperson for the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland, Bulelani Mfaco says taxpayer's money would be better invested in building new homes. The ESRI analysis found a lack of pathways for refugees hoping to access affordable housing along with overburdened frontline support workers in local authorities and homeless charities to be among the greatest barriers. In Clare at present, there are over 1,100 households availing of HAP, while last month the local authority was supporting 118 people here in emergency accommodation. But the a MidWest Migrant Rights Centre claims a lack of communication between IPAS and county councils is creating serious difficulties for refugees hoping to access housing. Doras CEO John Lannon says the situation is having a serious impact on the well-being of new arrivals and their families.