British Chancellor's Spending Review will impact asylum seekers
British Government to stop using taxpayer-funded hotels to accomodate asylum seekers by 2029
The Assembly and local councils will need to engage with communities regarding certain aspects of the British Chancellor's Spending Review, according to Ballyarnett Aontú representative, Emmet Doyle.
The Spending Review, announced by Rache Reeves MP on Wednesday, June 11, outlined that the British Government is to stop using taxpayer-funded hotels to accomodate asylum seekers by 2029.
Currently one hotel in Derry and one in Belfast are being used to house asylum seekers while their applications are being processed.
“This change to how the Home Office will accommodate asylum seekers and end the use of hotels will have an impact not only on communities, but also on those placed in hotels whilst their applications are processed," said Mr Doyle.
"There are hundreds of people currently living in a hotel in the city centre, having been placed there by Mears, the accommodation contractor for the Home Office," he added.
"If accommodation like that is going to be run down over the next four years, the community should be engaged as to what that change will mean, where people awaiting their asylum application being processed will live, and the need to ensure that any new accommodation is fit for purpose and in line with human rights.
"The Executive Office is informed by the Home Office about changes to asylum accommodation, and provides funding to other Departments and Councils to provide information and support for newcomers.
"It must now ensure that they engage with communities about any further changes and the impact it will have on all concerned, simply ignoring the issues or signposting to the Home Office in London is not good enough.”