KIND hearted Limerick people who were moved by the plight of refugees and their small children drowning as they flee warzones may have made offers of accomodation to sites which cannot deliver to the people who need it.
In the wake of the heartbreaking pictures of three-year old Alan Kurdi who perished along with his five-year-old brother and mother off the coast of Turkey., thousands of Irish people logged on to pledge beds and accommodation for the people driven out.
But the only official agency tasked with matching offers and goodwill with people in need, the Red Cross, says just 18 offers have been recorded from Limerick and just 750 nationwide.
The problem is that websites set up in goodwill be different groups have fond they cannot pass information on to the Red CRoss under the Data Protection Act.
Paul Anderson, Communications executive with the Red Cross explained that they have been authorised to deal with pledges. “People are coming to this country in desperate need. If people want to make a pledge of accommodation then they can do so through out website. We also welcome pledges of donations or skills such as language teaching and a befriending pledge is very important, particularly from bodies such as sporting organisations who can help people settle in to communities. This is particularly important for children”.
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice has confirmed that reports that a site or sites have been identified in Limerick to process and accommodate migrants are dated. “These (the named sites) are historic and have nothing to do with this wave of migrants. We are now examining expressions of interest in providing accommodation for people coming to this country,” a spokesperson said. The spokesperson said there will be no identification of possible sites until the expressions of interest have been examined.
Meanwhile, Doras Luimni, the migrant support organisation have reacted to a statement by Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, there would be “a stronger focus on deportations in 2016 to prioritise genuine refugees amid concerns the asylum system is being abused”.
Leonie Kerins, Doras Luimni director said that “while it is encouraging to the see Government making progress in the realisation of its commitment to resettle some 4,000 refugees, we cannot forget that over 4,500 people continue to live in sub-standard conditions under the system of Direct Provision. For so many people, this Christmas was be the tenth year in institutionalised living while awaiting a decision on their asylum application”.
Ms Kerins said that national developments on the issue of Direct Provision progressed somewhat in early 2015 with the conclusion of the government’s Working Group, which recommended residency for long-term asylum seekers in Ireland.
“More recently, the new International Protection Bill was enacted but failed to include key recommendations made by NGOs in the sector on the right to work, the best interest of the child and family reunification rights.
“Doras are supporting Syrian refugees who have recently resettled in Ireland through our sub-office in Portloaise, which has been very positive and inspiring to date, We remain deeply concerned however that the new Protection Bill may limit their right to family reunification thus further limiting the rights of refugees in Ireland. Additionally, the Government is now creating a two-tier system that prioritises newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers under the current resettlement and relocation commitments and is at risk of neglecting the long-term residents of Direct Provision, who have suffered enormously under failed policies.
Anyone wishing to make a pledge of accommodation or other support to the Red Cross can do so at https://www.redcross.ie/registerofpledges/
