Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman has said the Government is funding NGOs providing support to homeless asylum seekers such as tents. 

He confirmed to Newstalk the Government is supporting some charities that support international protection applicants who cannot be provided with State accommodation. 

“Where people aren't accommodated, they engage with a number of NGOs that our department support in terms of providing services to international protection applicants who haven't been accommodated,” he told The Anton Savage Show. 

“Those are a range of services - they may be access to meals, access to showers during the day, and a number of those NGOs may provide tents or sleeping bags. 

“Our department funds NGOs.” 

Hundreds of tents have been removed by the Government recently as the number of asylum seekers sleeping rough rises. 

On May 1st, a multi-agency operation saw around 200 asylum seekers and their tents removed from outside the International Protection Office on Mount Street. 

Shortly after, 100 tents were pitched along the Grand Canal, which were removed on Thursday. 

Metal security fencing has been erected along the Grand Canal to prevent more tents being set up, although roughly 30 tents remain in the area currently. 

Tents housing asylum seekers on Mount Street last month. Image: Leah Farrell/© RollingNews.ie

Mr O’Gorman said tents are removed when people are provided with an offer of accommodation and are brought to that accommodation. 

“We moved 163 people from the location on the Grand Canal on Thursday morning,” he said. 

“The previous Thursday we moved 290 people to accommodation, new accommodation that we brought in.” 

Accommodation for asylum seekers

Mr O’Gorman said the Government “will be in a position to say with confidence that everybody who requires an offer of accommodation can get one” in the next few months. 

“We're doing everything in our power to bring on additional accommodation,” he said. 

“We’ve already delivered that at some scale in Crooksling and Trudder, but I want to be in a position where I can provide an offer of accommodation to everybody. 

“That's the work we're doing in the short-term in the provision of State-owned land and in the longer-term measures in terms of bringing on additional developments.” 

In the first four months of this year, the number of asylum seekers increased by 95% in comparison to 2023. 

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