Ireland due to pay EU €1.5m for failing to house 350 refugees

The Government cabinet is expected later today to discuss a financial contribution of €1.5m it may have to make to the European Union for failing to accommodate 350 refugees in Ireland.

Ireland has signed up to an EU initiative for housing refugees seeking international protection.

The Voluntary Solidarity Mechanism (VSM) was created to assist member states along the EU's external borders who are under pressure from new arrivals. This included countries along the Mediterranean receiving people from search and rescue sea operations.

The EU’s voluntary solidarity mechanism (VSM) requires member states to accommodate refugees or pay a financial contribution if they could not.

The Government had agreed to house 350 refugees under the scheme but, due to the war in Ukraine and a rise in asylum seekers from other regions, it has been unable to find the required accommodation.

This means the State will have to make a contribution of €1.5m to the solidarity scheme to assist with the relocation of refugees in other countries.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Michael McGrath said what has been achieved so far is remarkable with over 85,000 people (65,000 Ukrainians and 25,000 International Protection Applicants) being accommodated by the State.

"We have been very honest and open with people about the pressure that is there in terms of accommodation provision around the country," Minister McGrath told RTÉ.