The Department of Justice is projecting that approximately 15,000 asylum seekers will arrive in Ireland this year, though it remains “very hard to be certain” of what the final number will be, according to Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1’s This Week programme on Sunday afternoon, O’Callaghan noted that around 18,500 asylum seekers entered the country last year. He expressed concern over the high number of applicants who are not entitled to international protection and emphasised the need for stricter controls.
“I have to be straight with the Irish people – too many people are coming to Ireland seeking international protection who are not entitled to international protection,” he said.
“Last year, 14,000 applications were processed, and at first instance, over 65% were rejected. This year already, in January, over 80% of applications were rejected at first instance.”
O’Callaghan argued that the current system places strain on resources, impacting those with legitimate asylum claims.
“We have a situation where there are too many people seeking international protection who are not entitled to it,” he said.
“The people who are really suffering from that, of course, are the people who are legitimately entitled to claim it, who may not be provided with accommodation because of the numbers that are coming in.”
PLANS FOR ACCOMMODATION CENTRES
O’Callaghan stressed the need for asylum centres but opposed an approach that focused simply expanding capacity.
“We need accommodation centres for the persons who are coming in, but what I’m not going to sit down and say ‘Our function now is to just create as many accommodation spaces as possible,’” he said, adding that Junior Minister Colm Brophy agreed with him on this point.
“We have to look at what is the driver of accommodation, and the driver of the accommodation needs is the ever-increasing number of people coming in seeking international protection.”
O’Callaghan highlighted Citywest as a model for how accommodation should be structured. While confirming the government’s plan to purchase centres, he did not specify an exact number.
“The plan is to buy a series of centres around the country, that’s correct,” he said, adding that state ownership of facilities would be more cost-effective than leasing properties.
FUTURE OF UKRAINIAN ACCOMMODATION SCHEME
The Minister also addressed uncertainty surrounding the government’s €800 monthly payment scheme for housing Ukrainian refugees, which is set to expire at the end of the month.
“I’ve spoken to the Tánaiste about it, I’ve spoken to the Taoiseach about it,” he said.
“I don’t want to preempt any government decision. I’ve spoken to Minister Foley, obviously, and Colm Brophy as well. There will be changes made in respect of it. I just do not want to announce here a decision that has yet to be made by the government.”
A decision on the scheme is expected before the end of the month, he said.