Concerns are mounting among refugee organisations about the Government's policy of dispersing asylum-seekers following growing opposition from residents' groups around the State.
The Irish Refugee Council called for a substantial review of the implementation of the dispersal policy, and urged the Taoiseach to make a public commitment to positively tackling the asylum issue.
The council, an umbrella body of interested groups, says there is a huge gap in information for communities and this, "combined with even a little prejudice from a small number, is a lethal cocktail".
Its chief executive, Mr Peter O'Mahony, said he was supportive of the principle of dispersing asylum-seekers outside Dublin but the policy had not been implemented well to date.
"It is clear that the consultation was too little, too late, and maybe that arises from the fact that there hasn't been a general culture of consultation in the Department of Justice," he said. "The policy is clearly not working and there is a need for a very substantial review."
Mr O'Mahony said the dispersal policy had to be salvaged. "As a nation we are going to have asylum-seekers and refugees into the future and, while it is late, it is not too late to get it right and we absolutely have to salvage it by dealing with the real concerns of local communities and the prejudices that are there."
Mr O'Mahony said the Taoiseach must show the kind of leadership displayed when the State hosted a large group of Kosovar refugees last year.
"At this stage, this is not simply an issue for one Government department. We absolutely need leadership from the top to indicate how the Government plans to deal with the issues that have been raised countrywide," he added.
The Pan African Organisation said the "uncivilised" dispersal and direct provision programme violated fundamental human rights.
Some 1,149 asylum-seekers are currently dispersed to 28 premises in locations including Glengarriff, Co Cork; Birr, Co Offaly; and Tralee, Co Kerry. There has been opposition to the placing of asylum-seekers in eight locations, including Rosslare Harbour, where a picket continues outside the Devereux Hotel.
The Directorate for Asylum Support Services was set up within the Department of Justice late last year to co-ordinate the dispersal policy. Over the past few weeks, up to 10 staff have met local communities in areas where asylum-seekers are to be accommodated.
Officials have been met with open hostility at many of the meetings, with anger expressed by many residents at the lack of consultation. It is understood that owners of some premises due to accept asylum-seekers have been threatened by residents.
A spokesman for the Department of Justice stressed it was official policy to consult residents in areas where there are plans to disperse asylum-seekers. "Meetings around the country will continue as and when the locations are identified to allay people's fears as well as trying to outline the situation we have regarding asylum-seekers," he said.
Since April 10th, the directorate has been responsible for finding accommodation for all the asylum-seekers, who are arriving at a rate of about 1,000 per month. Upon arrival, asylum-seekers are temporarily placed in one of three reception centres in Dublin.
These are the former Parnell West Hotel on Parnell Square, which holds 79 people; the former Viking Lodge on Francis Street, which has room for 110; and a former guesthouse on Pembroke Road, which can take 83 people.
Two other hostels, on Gardiner Street and North Frederick Street in north Dublin, can hold 70 people and are being used to accommodate the overspill from the three reception centres.
The asylum-seekers stay in these locations while arrangements are made for their supplementary welfare allowances. They are also offered health screening. After a week or two, asylum-seekers are dispersed to hostels, guesthouses and hotels outside Dublin. Most of the accommodation is full-board, and the asylum-seekers receive £15 per week social welfare benefit per adult and £7.50 per child. The Office of Public Works is responsible for sourcing suitable accommodation.