Our response to the Covid-19 pandemic

Answered more than 400 telephone calls and more than 200 emails in relation to Covid-19
Found accommodation for more than 40 people so that they can leave Direct Provision and supported many more in housing and accommodation issue
Convened online meetings of the Asylum Support Network (more than 20 support organisations across Ireland) and shared information regularly through a facilitated message board
Advocated, in partnership with other organisations, for vulnerable people and healthcare workers to be given space to isolate and moved out of Direct Provision
Conducted a survey of people’s experiences of Direct provision to be published in mid-June
Coordinated more than 40 organisations to write to request an increase of €20 to the Direct Provision weekly allowance
Letters and advocacy to political parties around including a comittment to end Direct Provision in any manifesto

Partnered with Centra to deliver more than 3,000 Easter Eggs to children in Direct Provision
Partnered with ‘We Make Good’ and the ‘Textile Studio’ on a ‘buy one, gift one’ face mask initiative
Launched our new website
Spoke to RTE and the BBC World Service about the situation of healthcare workers in Direct Provision

Two meetings with the University of Sanctuary movement discussing how student accommodation could be used for people in Direct Provision
Ongoing engagement with 19 higher education institutes to finalise our 2020 Education Information Booklet
Communicated with stakeholders on the broadening of the SUSI regulations which we have been advocated for
Checked in with and provided support to young people including applying for the Covid-19 payment

Support to people who are particularly ‘at-risk’ and liaising with the relevant authorities to secure safe and appropriate accommodation
Assistance to homeless people who were unable to re-access their bed in direct provision.Assisted persons who have been wrongly excluded from Direct Provision in accessing accommodation
Direct advice to protection applicants regarding access to the Covid-19 emergency social welfare payment
Direct advice to applicants wishing to make new applications on how to access the international protection procedure in the current circumstances
Sought legal opinion on the State’s responsibilities to people in congregated settings during the pandemic and submitted to Minister Flanagan and Minister Harris
Published the Asylum Information Database report for Ireland, a detailed report analysing Ireland's protection process

Advocacy to the Departments of Health Justice for easier registration of health care professionals
Assisted with ad hoc recruitment, including HSE recruitment campaign applications, and supporting persons made redundant
Information sharing and referrals made for clients across range of issues affected by Covid 19 pandemic
Conducted 23 phone interviews and questionnaires with refugee women, employers and external stakeholders as part of consultation process for our “Integration from Day 1” project
Worked with more than 90 healthcare workers to access temporary accommodation so they could continue their important work and not live in Direct Provision

Updated 12 June 2020