The United Nations Refugee Agency has raised concerns at the continued use of tented accommodation for asylum seekers and Ukrainian refugees in Ireland as the weather gets colder.
The Irish Refugee Council also said it also has"grave concerns about people living in tents as the weather gets colder".
The tented facility in Columb Barracks in Mullingar is accommodating 56 international protection applicants, while tents alongside the direct provision centre in Knockalisheen in Meelick in Clare are accommodating 76 asylum seekers.The Head of the Dublin Office of the UNHCR, Enda O'Neill, said it had visited a number of tented accommodation sites in recent weeks, and while"it is clear that the authorities are doing their best to keep people safe, warm and dry...
The UNHCR has said that the"modular, pod-like units, such as those currently being installed at Columb Barracks in Mullingar, are a much better solution than the tented accommodation being used at several sites around the country." "We have grave concerns about people living in tents as the weather gets colder. We visited the Central Mental Hospital location last week and met with people living there," Mr Henderson said.