The Government has been warned that the influx of tens of thousands of refugees into towns and cities across Ireland poses a risk to social cohesion and integration, particularly among deprived communities.
In a secret memo seen by The Irish Independent, Ministers were cautioned that the current humanitarian response could become unsustainable in the coming weeks, with a risk that those displaced by the war in Ukraine may not be able to find accommodation, education, income support or employment.
In April, a separate memo to cabinet also warned of a shortage of beds, and according to the Irish Independent, as many as 10,000 people fleeing the war in Ukraine for Ireland will have no accommodation here by the end of this month.
20,000 refugees have arrived in Ireland so far, and while there have been 20,000 pledges of accommodation made by the public, the Government expects that less than half of those will be suitable.
The Irish Refugee Council has said a medium to long-term plan is needed. Nick Henderson, CEO of the organisation, recently argued that people should be offered up to 400 euro per month if they make their unoccupied holiday homes available to house refugees.
“This, we believe, would significantly assist in the accommodation of refugees,” Mr Henderson told MidWest Radio.
Gript has previously pointed to the problems with Ireland’s refugee policy.
Last month, John McGuirk said the Irish Government had made a commitment “it could never hope to meet,” adding that there was little recognition of this because of a fear of speaking out against the taking in of refugees.
“The interesting thing about this story is not, really, the unfolding disaster. Yes, we are going to have thousands of people, fleeing a terrible war, with nowhere to stay. But that tragedy was baked in from the day the Irish Government made a commitment that it could never hope to meet.
“No, the interesting thing is how that commitment came to be made, and how hardly anybody – outside this publication, and a few lone voices on social media – dared to say “hang on a minute,” McGuirk said.
“My own theory is that the largest single culprit for poor policy decisions in Ireland is a large scale, institutional, fear of speaking out. Put simply, nobody wanted to be the respectable fellow – or lady – to say “we cannot do this” because there is always the risk in Ireland that saying something like that, when it relates to something like immigration or refugees, will get you tarred as one of those racists,” he added.
In an editorial published at the end of April, Gript also said that the Government was “out of control” with regards to the take in of refugees:
“Our collective view is this: when it comes to allocating homes to people, the Irish Government should prioritise the people of Ireland. Not out of any disrespect for others, but because this is what the Irish government is for. It is why we have one to begin with.
“When it comes to deciding how many refugees we should accommodate, the Irish Government should base that decision on the needs and capacity to help of Irish people, not on the needs of the refugees.
“That, again, is what the Irish Government is for. The Irish Government has neither the duty, nor the right, to damage the interests of its own people to advance the cause of another”.
Several people waiting on housing lists have spoken to Gript about suffering the repercussions of Ireland’s housing crisis, stressing that those already on existing waiting lists cannot be forgotten about as the Government vows to house refugees.
Gabor Szocs directed his anger and frustration towards the Irish Government for “making promises it cannot keep”.
The reality, Mr Szocs said, is that there are many just like him whose names have been gathering dust on waiting lists for social housing for years, and who have seen first-hand that supply is incapable of meeting demand, year on year.
“I should have been housed before this war started. You have to look after these people, yes, but what about those of us already here who are in need?” he said.
On his belief that the Irish government has made unrealistic promises to those fleeing the war in Ukraine, he added:
“To all of you who come to Ireland, refugees and non-refugees, you are welcome, but please be aware, you will meet a government which is not able to keep the promises made to its own people.”