Chai Brady
Asylum seekers hoping to work face “very restrictive” arrangements made by the Department of Justice, who previously expressed concern that allowing people in direct provision to work would worsen the housing crisis.
The Irish Refugee Council (IRC) told The Irish Catholic that since May 1, only one application for a work permit has been received by the department while there has been 368 successful applications for self-employment.
“Work is an important way through which people can gain independence and reduce dependency on the State,” said Nick Henderson, CEO of the IRC.
“However, people still face considerable difficulties in moving out of direct provision including insufficient funds for travelling to view properties, insufficient funds for a deposit and discrimination.
“This is reflected in the fact that there are around 460 people in Direct Provision, with status, who can work, but cannot leave because of these barriers and the wider housing crisis.”
This comes as minutes from a Department of Justice taskforce meeting revealed concerns expressed that the Supreme Court ruling – which allows asylum seekers to work – could lead to the 6,000 people in direct provision centres “exiting direct provision centres and seeking housing”.
Currently asylum seekers can only work in jobs in which they’d earn no less than €30,000.