legal and social conditions for asylum seekers and refugees in ...

SOCIAL CONDITIONS FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS
Introduction/legal basis
Since there are no state-organised reception strategies for asylum seekers, the Department of
Justice, Equality and Law Reform have relied, as an alternative, on existing social services
designed to meet the needs of homeless individuals under the Social Welfare Consolidation Act
of 1991.
Accordingly, the Health Boards are charged with the reception and welfare of asylum seekers.
The Refugee Unit of the Eastern Health Board, responsible for the reception of asylum seekers in
the Dublin region, where about 80 % of asylum applicants are accommodated, is located in the
Refugee Applications Centre (RAC) in Dublin.
The establishment of the RAC in October of 1998 was the first concerted effort of the Irish
authorities to co-ordinate the reception of asylum seekers. The RAC centralises existing services
for asylum seekers, including additional services such as the Refugee Legal Service (see above
under “Legal Aid”) and a medical unit.
Towards the end of 1999, the Asylum Division of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law
Reform created the “Directorate for Asylum Seekers Services” (DASS) to devise new reception
strategies for asylum seekers. Following its establishment, the Directorate for Asylum Seeker
Services began dispersing newly arrived asylum seekers to key locations throughout the country
and implementing direct support for applicants.
The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform have recently announced that a statutory
agency, called the Reception and Integration Agency will be established. The proposed Agency,
which will come under the Department, will report to a Statutory Board consisting of
representatives of relevant Government Departments. It will have the following functions:
– planning and co-ordinating the provision of services to both asylum seekers and refugees;
– co-ordinating and implementing integration policy for all refugees and persons who, though not
refugees, are granted leave to remain; and
– responding to crisis situations, which result in relatively large numbers of refugees arriving in
Ireland within a short period of time.
Responsibility for reception of asylum seekers and integration of refugees will, in the short term,
be handled by the DASS.
Accommodation on arrival
Initially, upon arrival in Ireland, asylum seekers were placed in emergency accommodation, which
consisted of bed & breakfast accommodation and hostels for homeless persons, until such time
as they found accommodation in the private rented sector.
However, newly arrived applicants are now channelled to various locations throughout Ireland
and no longer have the right to chose independent living arrangements.
The DASS is responsible for finding this accommodation and all applicants have access to it.
Moreover, Health Boards’ community welfare officers, at their discretion, can facilitate the option
of accommodation in the private rented sector by granting a rent deposit and a rent allowance
(see below). In practice, however, it can be very difficult for asylum seekers to find housing due to
language barriers, racial discrimination, lack of availability, and landlords who may be reluctant to
accept tenants in receipt of rent allowance.
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Ireland