Men on horseback block road in protest at ‘refugee centre’
Demonstrations at accommodation site enter a fourth night
UP to 500 asylum seekers are to be housed in modular homes in the north side of Dublin, it was confirmed last night, as protests against the plan entered their fourth day.
In a statement to the Irish Daily Mail, the Department of Integration confirmed it was considering the former Crown Paints warehouse to accommodate asylum seekers.
Word spread on social media at the start of the week that the Coolock building was to be used as an asylum centre, prompting protests outside it.
Several men were captured on video blocking traffic while riding horses. Around 50 people were involved in the demonstration, with many carrying Irish flags.
On the third consecutive night of protests at the site on Wednesday, protesters claimed
‘Deputy O’Gorman must lay out a plan’
that up to 1,000 people were to be moved to the area.
However, the department said the number who will be housed there, if the building is repurposed, will be 500 – men, women, children and families.
Protest groups yesterday continued their demonstration outside the building, with gardaí in attendance. However, gardaí said no arrests or no disturbances were recorded on Wednesday or by time of publication last night.
It emerged this week that more than €640million was spent housing asylum seekers last year, compared to €356million in 2022.
More than 26,000 asylum seekers were housed by the State in 2023, at an average yearly cost of €24,356 per resident – a 79% rise on the €356million spent on accommodating more than 19,000 asylum seekers in 2022. Asylum seekers are not asked to contribute to the cost of their accommodation.
The Government continues to struggle to find housing for Ukrainian refugees coming to Ireland. The lack of space as well as frequent protests have turned the problem into an election issue, many TDs and political commentators have said.
The removal of refugees from a mini tent city outside the International Protection Office on Dublin’s Mount Street last week has also inflamed debates.
Those people were moved to Crooksling, on the outskirts of the capital, with many afterwards walking back to the city centre.
Sinn Féin TD Pádraig Mac Lochlainn said in the Dáil on Wednesday: ‘Everybody must agree the scenes of asylum seekers being moved from tents on Mount Street to tents on the Dublin mountains in recent days were absolutely appalling.
‘We need the minister, Deputy O’Gorman, who has been abandoned by his Cabinet colleagues, to come to the Chamber to account for what happened and lay out a plan.’
In response, outgoing Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: ‘My understanding is that there are now more than 100 international protection applicants in Crooksling, where they have access to toilets, showers, regular meals and other services. They also have access to healthcare services. Those are the services that are available until something more permanent can be found.’
A spokesman for the department said of the new accommodation in Dublin: ‘The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is currently considering an offer for the use of the former Crown Paints warehouse in Coolock to accommodate International Protection applicants.
‘The proposal is for modular units placed inside the warehouse, providing mixed-use accommodation for families, couples, single adult males and single adult females.
‘An experienced and trusted accommodation provider has expressed interest in the delivery of the accommodation. People seeking International Protection would be accommodated on a gradual basis under the proposal, and an estimated 500 people may be housed there.
‘Further details and full engagement will take place with public and community leaders in due course,’ they said.