Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I also want to mention the situation in East Wall where international protection applicants are being provided accommodation in a disused ESB building. There seems to be a complete lack of planning by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in this instance. We had a similar issue in my own area where asylum seekers were placed in a vacant office building without any dialogue with the community. Along with other Deputies and councillors from my area, I met the Minister and his officials after the decision was made to place these international protection applicants in this disused building. At that meeting we were informed that if there were any changes, the Minister would inform us as elected representatives. This did not happen. I took that in good faith from the Minister. I was very disappointed that at a meeting of the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the local Fine Gael Deputy was able to say there was an extension to the contract on this office building. I was not aware of that. I have the same mandate. I am elected in the same area as that Government party Deputy. That is no way to be doing business with any elected representative.

My community in Clondalkin is very generous and welcoming, much like the community in East Wall. In fact, when there were threats to close a direct provision centre in my area in Clondalkin, the local people rallied behind the residents in the direct provision centre because the people in that centre had become part of our community. They had become involved in our GAA clubs and involved in the Tidy Towns. Their children were going to school with my children and they were part of the community. The residents in Clondalkin got out and rallied behind them. They are still there. I do not agree with direct provision centres. I believe they should be in a more humane place, but it just shows the spirit of Clondalkin. East Wall is very similar.

As I already said, there seems to be a complete lack of planning. Originally, Government announced it expected up to 200,000 Ukrainian nationals to come to Ireland. I believe the Minister said at the moment we have 46,000 and so we are nowhere near the 200,000. The situation seems to be a complete mess. Not only was what happened in East Wall disrespectful to the community of East Wall, it was also disrespectful to the asylum seekers. I echo the call by my party leader, Deputy McDonald, on the Order of Business today for the Minister to address the Dáil on the matter. Will he agree to that request? The lack of dialogue has led to division, which is being manipulated by right-wing elements, spreading false information and disinformation in the community, and that is causing division in our community. What lessons have been learned from East Wall? How will the Minister change tactics in future?

The Minister also mentioned that communication with the community in East Wall is ongoing. In what format is this communication taking place? Could that communication not have taken place earlier?