THE STATE’S Reception and Integration Agency has agreed to defer a threatened eviction of asylum seekers from a hostel in Galway, pending a “review” of their individual cases.
The agency, which is responsible for accommodation and providing services for asylum seekers, was responding to issues raised during a demonstration at the Great Western Hostel in Galway on Tuesday.
In a related development, the Residents Against Racism group has expressed concern that some asylum seekers photographed participating in a recent demonstration in Galway had been subjected to alleged unfair treatment subsequently by State officials.
Outlining one case involving an asylum seeker’s experience in applying for a supplementary welfare allowance, spokeswoman Rosanna Flynn said protest was a “democratic right”, and expressed concern that attempts were being made by some officials at local level to “frighten people” away from exercising this right.
HSE West said it could not comment on individual cases, but there was a process in place for supplementary welfare allowances.
The latest protest, in Galway, arose on Tuesday after the agency issued notice to quit to several residents as they were not signing the register.
It was the second protest in a fortnight by asylum seekers in Galway over issues relating to conditions and to delays in handling asylum applications.
Two weeks ago, a similar protest took place at Lisbrook House, formerly the Ibis hotel, on the city’s outskirts.
The Reception and Integration Agency said they would be discussing a number of general maintenance issues with the Great Western proprietor.
Responding to demands that some staff be replaced, the agency said it was “satisfied the Great Western . . . is operated to the standard required under contract”. The most recent agency inspection of the centre was completed on March 31st, 2011, and the most recent independent inspection on December 3rd, 2010, it said. The agency said it would arrange for an “information clinic” to be held at the Great Western next week, where residents could “bring their own individual concerns to the attention of agency staff on a one-to-one basis”.
During Tuesday’s protest, a number of the men from Ghana, Cameroon, Congo, Afghanistan and the Middle East described how they slept two, three and even seven to a room, and how some had been waiting for asylum application decisions for up to 10 years.