Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“I recently asked the First and deputy First Ministers how many asylum seekers and other immigrants are presently accommodated in hotel-style accommodation in Northern Ireland and how much financial support their
Department is receiving and dispensing in support of these arrangements.
“While the Executive Office does not retain data about the number of asylum seekers, we know from the Home Office that there were 3,220 people receiving asylum support in Northern Ireland in September 2023 (see here).
“The total amount of support Northern Ireland departments have received for asylum seekers runs to over £7 million – £4,324,250 in 2022/2023 and £2,863,750 in 2023/24.
“This eye watering figure will cause many ordinary people to sit up and take notice. It also underscores the fact that when our partners in Reform UK demand that the Government Stops the Boats this is a very real issue which impacts on people in this part of the UK.
“Reform UK has a 6 Point Plan to deal with this issue:
• Recognise a national Security Threat;
- Leave the European Convention on Human Rights;
- Zero Illegal Immigrants to be Resettled in the UK;
- Offshore Processing for Illegal Arrivals;
- New Department of Immigration;
- Pick up Migrants out of Boats and Take Back to France.
- Secure Detention for all Asylum Seekers. Asylum claims that arrive through safe countries will be processed rapidly offshore in British Overseas Territories.
“In the upcoming Westminster election, we look forward to offering people across Northern Ireland the opportunity to endorse policies which will actually do something to address a situation which is causing deep concern within many communities, particularly in deprived areas where pressure on the health, housing and education system is already too great.”
Mr Allister’s question and the response received are as follows:
To ask the First Minister and deputy First
Minister (i) how many asylum seekers and other immigrants are presently
accommodated in hotel-style accommodation; and (ii) how much financial support their Department is receiving and dispensing in support of these arrangements.
ANSWER
The provision of accommodation for asylum seekers is not devolved and is the responsibility of the Home Office and its contracted housing provider Mears. Home
Office publishes relevant data.
The Home Office has made funding available in the last two financial years to support the dispersal of asylum seekers. The Full Dispersal fund aims to support the further development of infrastructure and enhance service provision to asylum seekers locally.
Whilst it is not to support the contingency accommodation arrangements specifically, it is expected to reduce the reliance on CA by increasing dispersed accommodation more widely across the jurisdiction. The use of funding is agreed by the Strategic Planning Group on Refugees and Asylum Seekers (SPG (RAS)), and allocations were facilitated by TEO as per the table below:
2022/2023
Department Allocation
Dept of Communities £77,019
Dept of Education £915,000
Dept for Economy £144,740
Dept of Health £1,691,420
The Executive Office £1,496,071
Total £4,324,250
2023/24
Department Allocation
Dept for Infrastructure £1,203,481
Dept for Economy £323,379
Dept of Communities £197,538
The Executive Office £200,000
Dept of Education £795,000
Dept of Health £144,352
Total £2,863,750