Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I express my sympathy to the family of Neno Dolmajian and the families and communities of those who died so tragically on our roads. It is appalling to hear of four deaths in such a short time, bringing the total to such a horrific figure at a time we should be seeing reductions in the number of road fatalities. I join others in that.

I raise again the Government’s failure on migration policy and in particular its failure to provide adequate accommodation to those who come here seeking shelter. The most visible evidence of this failure lies along the Grand Canal in Dublin. A beautiful landscape in normal times, it is normally a real place of beauty with swans nesting. It is very tranquil and those of us who live locally are very lucky to do so. It is a route I take every day and did so just this morning. However, in recent weeks we have seen a changed landscape with the grim sight of large metal security barriers that have been in place for some weeks, which run along the canal for kilometres from Barrow Street to Portobello. It is really deliberate State vandalism of what should be a beautiful public amenity and visible evidence of the Government’s failure to provide sufficient accommodation for those who have come here seeking shelter from war and persecution. The barriers create an intimidating environment for anyone who has experienced it for anyone walking along the canal. On one side, the water and on the other, this high fence along a narrow path with no gaps for quite long distances. Many constituents have expressed deep concern and disquiet to me about feeling trapped while walking along there. Our public spaces should be safe and accessible and it is simply not good enough to see them being fenced off in this way because the Government cannot provide enough accommodation.

People want to know when the barriers will be removed and when the Government will have in place a sustainable solution to the shortage of accommodation for refugees and those seeking asylum. I have raised this with the Taoiseach on countless occasions. We still have far too many people who are left with no option but to camp in tents or under tarpaulins in exposed public spaces, on street corners and in public parks, but then they are being moved on and cleared out whenever the gathering becomes too obvious. I pay tribute to the many wonderful volunteers who are providing support, food and clothing to those who are left in such dire conditions, but this is not humane and it is not sustainable. At the same time, we see large numbers of public buildings around the Dublin city that could be repurposed. I have raised countless times the empty Baggot Street Hospital site, just a stone’s throw from the canal, which should be repurposed yet still lies empty like so many other state-owned buildings. There is a report in today’s Irish Independent that the building has been cleared out but will it be repurposed, as it should be, for use for those who need shelter? There has been a lack of joined-up thinking elsewhere. My colleague, Deputy Kelly, raised the ridiculous situation in Borrisokane, County Tipperary where settled refugees who have integrated into the local community are being asked to move out to make room for others.

When will we see a co-ordinated and sustainable approach to the accommodation of those seeking asylum? When will we see the implementation by the Government of its own report by Dr. Catherine Day and of its new comprehensive accommodation strategy for housing international protection applicants that was announced as recently as March and that envisages the development of 14,000 state-owned beds by 2028? When will we see that begin?

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