IPAS criticised as 14 Tramore families to be rehomed | WLRFM.com

5,700 International Protection Applicants have been granted permission to permanently remain in Ireland.

They are now obliged to leave the accommodation centres and seek alternative accommodation.

14 families in Tramore are among those who have been issued with notices to secure housing by July 5th and July 26th.

Currently, 31,000 international protection applicants around the country are in accommodation centres.

Ocean View Accommodation Centre

14 families in Tramore have been served with notice to leave their accommodation at Ocean View House.

As part of a planned community day to take place today, the families are appealing to IPAS to allow them to remain within their accommodation.

A statement from CATU Waterford (Waterford Branch of Community Action Tenants) says:

“These families have received no further information on where they are to go, or be moved to, or how they are to maintain the crucial employment, education, health and social networks they depend on.”

The group added: “They have sought accommodation in the private rental sector across the country, many of them over the course of the past two or more years. But with little, or no, availability in the sector they have been unable to find anything.”

IPAS

WLR contacted IPAS and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

A spokesperson stated those with permission to remain in Ireland are then treated the same as Irish citizens in terms of housing entitlements.

“Where a person receives a grant of status or permission to remain, the Department no longer has a legal requirement to provide accommodation to them, as those with status have the same housing entitlements as Irish citizens. Nonetheless, IPAS has continued to provide accommodation until residents are in a position to source accommodation independently.”

Outlining the process as it stands, they added, “All those with International Protection/Permission to Remain are written to once status has been granted and are advised they must seek alternative accommodation. They are supported to register with a Local Authority and, if required, avail of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) to secure alternative accommodation.”

They added that should accommodation not be obtained by the date given to vacate, temporary, emergency accommodation will be provided.

However, it has been claimed by CATU Waterford that placement in emergency accommodation could be in any part of the country.

This, they say, would be detrimental to a person’s livelihood when taking into consideration jobs, schools, education and a place within the community.

A shortage of accommodation for newly arrived International Protection Applicants has been flagged.

This, the Department says, is the reason for urgent requirement of spaces in centres once they become available.

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