€5m. daily spend on asylum centres 'sparks outrage amid housing crisis' - Mayo councillor

A Mayo elected representative has called transparency and accountability on government spending on asylum centres amidst an unprecedented housing emergency

Councillor Paul Lawless, a vocal critic of the government’s mishandling of immigration and housing policies, has today slammed the staggering €5 million to accommodate asylum seekers and international protection applicants.

He hit out: “In the midst of a housing emergency, our government is allocating billions of euros to an asylum seeker programme, while there are over 14,000 homeless, and thousands of Irish citizens struggling to rent or buy homes.

“This is a national disgrace and a glaring example of the government’s misaligned priorities.”

The criticism follows the revelation that the government has already spent €922 million on asylum seeker accommodation in the first six months of 2024 alone.

Lawless expressed frustration with the lack of transparency in the establishment of IPAS (International Protection Accommodation Service) centres, particularly in Claremorris and Knock while ignoring local concerns.

“Government officials at the behest of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael TDs are working to transform local buildings into asylum centres without transparency or public consultation.

"They’re acting as if the people don’t matter and shouldn’t dare have a say. This secretive approach undermines democracy and shows complete disregard for the concerns of residents.”

Lawless also raised concerns about the spiralling costs associated with the government’s response to the immigration surge.

He criticised the exorbitant cost of modular homes for Ukrainian refugees, which has reportedly doubled from €200,000 to €442,000 per unit.

Citing a recent report from the Comptroller and Auditor General, he questioned the government’s fiscal responsibility.

“How can the cost of building a temporary modular home be double that of constructing a permanent council house?” Lawless asked.

“This is a scandalous waste of public resources while Irish families continue to suffer in a broken housing market.”

Lawless accused the government of incentivising wasteful spending by guaranteeing costs, effectively removing any incentive to keep expenses in check.

“The government is burning through taxpayers’ money without any accountability. This reckless spending is unacceptable.”

Lawless also highlighted the government’s conflicting stance on immigration.

While former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar recently admitted that asylum numbers have been too high, he claimed the government was powerless to control the situation.

Lawless dismissed these remarks as disingenuous.

"Ireland is experiencing the highest number of asylum seekers per capita, despite being an island nation on the periphery of Europe.

"It’s not our weather that’s driving this influx, but the government’s soft-touch policies. This is a choice, not an inevitability.

"Varadkar claims that we can not control immigration is wrong. We can, but the political will is lacking.

"Our leaders are more focused on impressing international figures and NGOs than addressing the needs of their own people.”

He further argued that the government’s recent tougher rhetoric on immigration is mere election-year posturing.

“Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are scrambling to appear tough on immigration, but their actions speak louder than words. They’ve been complicit in allowing these numbers to grow unchecked, while recklessly spending €5 million a day.

Lawless concluded with a call for greater accountability and a redirection of government spending to address Ireland’s housing crisis.

“We need to prioritise our own citizens and invest in solutions that alleviate the housing emergency. Instead, we see billions squandered on a project that is out of control.

"The public deserves answers, and the government must be held to account,” he added.