Asylum-seekers offered extra money to leave tented accommodation amid shortage

The offer to pay the extra allowance was made with the added incentive that those who accept it will be provided with non-tented accommodation when the capacity shortage has passed.

However, this has been described as “pathetic” by Labour TD Aodhán Ó Ríordáin.

There are now 100 tents lining the Grand Canal in Dublin, just a week after a clearout of people camping in Mount Street in the city centre.

It is understood a notice has been posted in the offices of the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS), where it can by seen by asylum-seekers.

A photograph of the notice, seen by the Irish Independent, shows it states the IPAS is experiencing an accommodation capacity shortage and is unable to accommodate all applicants. It then states that “some residents in IPAS tented accommodation have indicated they would prefer to take up an increased weekly allowance payment totalling €113.80”.

There is an apparent inference that these people will depart the system.

The notice states: “Any [applicant] who wishes to voluntarily depart IPAS tented accommodation during the current accommodation capacity shortage will be eligible to receive an increase to the Daily Expense Allowance (DEA) in the amount of €75 per week, bringing the total payment to €113.80 per week.

“When the capacity shortage has passed, a new offer of accommodation will be made to those who take up this option. This offer will not be to tented accommodation, but will be for standard accommodation.”

Reportage artist documents migrant tents along Dublin's Grand Canal

An email address linked to the Department of Equality and Integration appears at the end of the notice. It asks those who want to enquire about the offer to use the term “DEA offer” in their subject line.

Commenting on the notice, Mr Ó Ríordáin said it looked like the Government was “trying to buy people off”.

He said: “Is this the approach? Is this the answer? It’s absolutely pathetic. It sounds again like a department who have absolutely no concept of how to deal with this issue long term.

“Giving people a few bob so they won’t add to the statistics. It’s disgusting. Anybody looking at that would realise that it’s firefighting. It’s not coherent and it’s not going to work.”

Earlier, three opposition parties – Sinn Féin, Labour and the Social Democrats – demanded answers from Taoiseach Simon Harris on the tents issue.

Mr Harris said: “We will act in relation to the Grand Canal.”

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said the sight of 100 tents along the waterway was “a monument to your abject failure to manage”.

Ivana Bacik, leader of the Labour Party, also addressed the Grand Canal issue.

“Clearly this is inhumane, it is unsustainable and your Government has failed to provide adequate accommodation,” she said.

Referring to a notice offering people more money if they leave tents, Ms Bacik described it as a “desperate stopgap”.

But the Taoiseach said he was “very pleased” with the outcome of the Mount Street clearance operation, adding that nearly 300 people had been provided with better facilities.

“Good action was taken by good government,” he said. “I’m telling you now, we will deal with the Grand Canal – action will be taken.

“But we have to have a broader discussion about immigration that is not just about accommodation, because if we provide more accommodation, it will quickly fill up.”