Minister 'creating a new class of asylum millionaires' – Lawless

THE figures released in the Mail on Sunday regarding the state's lucrative contracts for accommodating refugees and asylum seekers are 'staggering', says Mayo Aontú representative Paul Lawless.

It was reported that in the first six months of 2023 the state paid over €100 million to just five companies and over €1 million each to a further 184 companies.

In the first six months of 2023 taxpayers paid more than €650 million to private accommodation providers to accommodate refugees and asylum seekers. To put this in context, it’s the equivalent of delivering over 3,000 three-bed semi-detached homes at a cost of circa €400,000.

Commented Mr. Lawless: “Minister Rodric O’Gorman’s department is assisting big business and speculators profiteering to the tune of tens of millions euros every year. Many of the companies in receipt of state contracts own several accommodation centres and registered companies. Rodric O’Gorman is creating a new class of asylum millionaires.

“It’s sad that a response of this scale is not being afforded to Irish citizens.”

Last year saw residents having to leave St. Anne’s Nursing home in Charlestown, while St. Brendan’s nursing unit in Mulranny is currently under threat due to spiralling costs, he said.

Nationally, over 700 public nursing homes beds have been lost or downgraded since 2019, while 915 beds have been lost from private and voluntary nursing homes in the last three years.

“The government has built a €4 million modular development in Claremorris without planning permission while at the same time pushing a Claremorris native into homelessness after demanding him to remove a mobile home on his own lands. How is this fair?

“Furthermore, there are multitudes of young people denied planning permission from Mayo County Council to build on family land. Last year the rate of those emigrating from Ireland to Australia doubled.The cost of living, largely fueled by the housing crisis in terms of rents and affordable homes, are driving our best and brightest abroad.”

He added: “The government response to housing asylum seekers in Claremorris and Mayo generally has been immense. The government should show the same level of priority toward its own housing targets in the county, having delivered just one social housing development in the county last year (Rehins Fort, Ballina).

“It is very disappointing that the government has failed to meet its own modest housing targets, and failed to meet their own obligations toward the elderly in nursing homes, while they have gone above and beyond in housing refugees and asylum seekers.

“I am calling on the government to apply fairness, common sense and consistency across the board.”