Wednesday, 25 Jan 2023
Updated / Wednesday, 25 Jan 2023 16:27
The centre prepared to feed 100 extra people today after being advised
by Government that more people may attend
By Aisling Moloney
The Capuchin Day Centre manager Alan Bailey said they had been warned
by the Government to expect more people presenting to them, after the
announcement that offers of accommodation to single adults arriving in
Ireland seeking protection had been paused.
The Capuchin Day Centre provides breakfast and lunch for anyone who
needs it, often serving 200 people for breakfast and 600 for lunch at
their site in Dublin's north inner city.
Mr Bailey said they have prepared to feed 100 extra people today after
being advised by Government officials that more people may turn up at
their door.
"Once we received the advice from the Government that there may be an
influx, we've been getting ready. We were here this morning at 6am to
get ready in case we had an influx from the group that arrived
yesterday.
"As long as we have a bit of an advance notice, it's no problem for us
to have everything ready."
Seven newly arrived international protection applicants were not
offered any State-provided accommodation yesterday.
The figures were released by the Department of Children, Equality,
Disability, Integration and Youth.
The Government paused accommodation offers to all adult asylum seekers
who seek protection in Ireland and arrive without children
A spokesperson confirmed that so far all of those who have been left
without accommodation are single men.
This morning's service at the centre included a takeaway breakfast as
the canteen is taken up by volunteers packing hampers.
Mr Bailey said they give out over 1,000 hampers each Wednesday to
whoever needs them. They are packed with food essentials like bread,
milk, cheese and cooked chicken and ham.
Most of the people visiting this morning to avail of the breakfast were
also taking a hamper away with them.
One group of students who were having the takeaway breakfast, said they
were from South America and had arrived here over a week ago, to study
English.
"We're seeing a lot of new people, and certainly we're seeing people
that we've never seen in here before, but we'd like to think they can
come here because they know we can provide necessities and they're
comfortable here."
"We just don't know what numbers are going to come in but we hope and
we feel we are ready for them. We sat down with the staff at 6am this
morning, and worked out the logistics of a big influx today and we feel
we're ready for it."
With an average of 310 international protection applicants arriving
into Ireland each week, it is estimated that this could see hundreds of
men and women rough sleeping in the coming weeks.
However, the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) will
continue to provide accommodation for asylum seeking families with
children.
Additional reporting Laura Fletcher