One in seven Irish hotels now used to house refugees
One in seven Irish hotels now used to house refugees
Words: Eva O’Beirne
118 Irish hotels are now being used to house asylum seekers and refugees.
According to figures from Newstalk, one in seven Irish hotels are being used to house refugees and asylum seekers. This figure does not include hotels being used for emergency homeless accommodation.
Ireland has taken in nearly 10,000 asylum seekers already this year, as well as 54,000 Ukrainian refugees.
The news comes as it was revealed last week that over 300 asylum seekers have been moved into tented accommodation.
104 refugees were moved into tents set up alongside the Direct Provision Centre at Knocklisheen in Co Clare on 5 September, while 40 people have been living in tents at the Johnston Marina Direct Provision Centre in Co Kerry since 25 July.
A “tented village” has now been set up at the Direct Provision Centre in Athlone, Co Westmeath.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth said it expects those living in tents at the site in Kerry to remain there until the “end of Autumn pending availability of permanent accommodation.”
Elsewhere on District: Abolish Direct Provision are collecting winter coats for refugees
