Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy has made very fair points about communication. There has been a ramping up in respect of the community engagement teams, additionality and additional resources. The scale of the challenge is enormous and that has to be recognised as well. In January alone, over 2,000 people sought international protection in the country. That is double the average of last year. We have 27,000 people in accommodation. We have to rapidly improve our administrative processes, which we are doing in the Department of Justice, to make sure that those who are genuinely seeking asylum and those who are economically seeking asylum are addressed speedily. There is very rigorous assessment going on. I take the Deputy’s point on communication. The Government acknowledges that. It is continually working to try to improve communication and make sure people have information that is as precise as possible.

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