The €1.2 billion the Government expects to spend this year on asylum seeker accommodation is not “value for money,” Aontú has argued. 

According to new figures obtained by the party, accommodation for each asylum seeker cost the State on average €33,000 a year and is forecast to reach €36,000 this year. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín described the sum as an “eye watering figure”. 

“The Government is not getting value for money - there’s no doubt about that,” he said. 

“We’re spending about €33,000 per person per year for accommodation. 

“To give a contrast to that, rent of a three bedroom house is typically about 20 grand a year - six people can be accommodated in a three bedroom house. 

“That’s nearly half of what it costs to accommodate one person in IPAS currently. 

“So, it’s €100 per person per night - which is extraordinary.” 

Deputy Tóibín said the Government had failed to deliver on promises to cut the cost of the asylum system. 

“Remember that the Government stated a number of years ago that they were going to purchase their own buildings, they were going to deliver this,” he said. 

“Indeed, a parliamentary question that I put in showed that they did purchase about 40 buildings - none of which were ever brought into use for this purpose.” 

He added that he believes many people come to Ireland because the asylum application process is easier than other western countries. 

“So, we have sent out a message internationally that if you come to Ireland, you’re very likely over time to gain asylum,” he claimed. 

“It will take a long period of time, you’ll be able to appeal, you’ll be able to go to judicial review. 

“Even if you get a deportation order, you’re very unlikely to be deported and the Government is overturning deportation orders at a significant level as well. 

“I think as a result, rational people have decided that they will try Ireland.” 

Failed asylum applicants

In recent months, there has been a significant increase in the number of asylum applications being rejected by civil servants. 

So far this year, 81% have been rejected in the first instant, while in 2017 the figure was 52%. 

“There’s no doubt in my mind that the figures blatantly show that for the last number of years, we weren’t testing properly and, as a result, many people who are coming for economic reasons were actually applying through our process,” Deputy Tóibín said. 

“For many years, the vast majority of deportations weren’t being actioned. 

“Even today, the majority of deportations are not being enforced.” 

After 39 failed asylum applicants were deported to Georgia last month, Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan described it as “not a particularly pleasant thing I have to do”. 

He added that he hoped the deporations would “send out a message” to anyone tempted to stay in Ireland after their application for asylum is rejected.

Main image: Peadar Tóibín. Picture by: Leah Farrell/© RollingNews.ie