Government to lease six `flotels'

The Minister of State for Public Works, Mr Martin Cullen, is to travel to Norway next week to inspect flotels (floating hotels…

The Minister of State for Public Works, Mr Martin Cullen, is to travel to Norway next week to inspect flotels (floating hotels) which the Government is planning to use to accommodate asylum-seekers.

The Irish Times has learned that the Department of Justice is to lease up to six flotels, to be located in ports in Dublin, Waterford, Galway, Limerick and Cork.

The Minister of State will travel to Norway with officials from his Department to inspect a prototype flotel, which is 94 metres long and 26 metres wide.

Sources said the flotels would accommodate about 200 people. They will have two-berth cabins and will include full sanitary and kitchen facilities.

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Officials from the Office of Public Works and the Department of Justice have already visited five countries to inspect flotel and pavilion type accommodation for asylum-seekers.

The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, is to bring forward wide-ranging proposals for the accommodation of asylum-seekers to Cabinet next Tuesday. He will propose the introduction of flotels to help cope with the increasing asylum-seeker accommodation crisis.

He will also bring forward proposals for direct provision for asylum-seekers and for their dispersal around the State.

While Ireland will not go as far as Britain by introducing a voucher system for asylum-seekers, Mr O'Donoghue will be proposing providing full bed and board with a small cash payment of £15 a week for adults and £7.50 per child.

The Tanaiste, Ms Harney, confirmed in the Dail yesterday that she will also be bringing immigration policy proposals to Cabinet on Tuesday.

The flotels are not to be purchased by the State but will be leased on a two-year-contract. A source said they would be towed across the sea to Irish ports when needed.

The OPW is also to construct prefabricated structures on a 60-acre site in the Curragh shortly to accommodate asylum-seekers.