Local authorities around the State will be instructed "within the next few days" to begin assessing accommodation to house asylum-seekers.
The move is part of an effort by the Department of Justice to disperse asylum-seekers outside Dublin to ease pressure on housing. There was no over-the-counter service in Dublin for refugees seeking accommodation or welfare assistance yesterday, although initial applications for asylum were being processed.
A spokesman for the Department of the Environment and Local Government confirmed yesterday that a letter was being drafted, which would be sent to each of the State's county managers, with details of the accommodation offered to the Department of Justice over the past two weeks.
They would be instructed to assess these.
The Department of Justice placed advertisements in the national and local press on October 30th, saying accommodation was "urgently required" to house asylum-seekers. Over 3,000 beds around the State have been offered.
It is not clear how long the assessment process will take. The cost of accommodating asylum-seekers will be absorbed initially by the local authorities and these will be reimbursed by the Department of Finance.
Meanwhile, additional community welfare staff will begin work at the Refugee Application Centre in Lower Mount Street, Dublin, within 10 days.
A spokeswoman for the Eastern Health Board said yesterday welfare workers were already in training.
Normal services are due to resume at the centre this morning following the withdrawal of over-the-counter services by the 15 community welfare officers there on Monday morning. Welfare workers had said the number of asylum applicants arriving daily was too great for the building and staff to handle safely.
Following talks between IMPACT and SIPTU, the union representing community welfare workers, and the EHB yesterday afternoon, it was agreed that the number of community welfare officers at the centre would be increased from 10 plus four relief workers to 20 plus five relief staff.
First-time asylum applicants continued to be received yesterday as normal. Their applications are taken by Department of Justice officials. The board also agreed to provide more space for the centre's work. The Office of Public Works will begin sourcing accommodation "for office and public space`' purposes today.
Mr Bernard Harbour, publicity officer with IMPACT, described the staff increase as substantial, but the minimum his union was looking for.
