Refugees crisis grows

e State’s handling of the refugee crisis amid warnings of an escalation in violent anti-immigration protests and continued accommodation shortages has led to bitter wrangling between Cabinet ministers.

e Equality Minister, Roderic O’Gorman has warned colleagues that TD, newly available accommodation for International Protection (IP) applicants would not avoid the ongoing situation that sees some refugees being forced to camp out on the streets as is the case in Dublin city centre. e Coalition is struggling to grapple with the refugee crisis following violent protests in Dublin and an ongoing blockade of accommodation in Inch, Co Clare.

Mr O’Gorman’s appeal for further support from colleagues encountered opposition from Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien at a Cabinet meeting.

Meanwhile, at the same meeting Justice Minister Simon Harris told of the serious concerns of Gardaí about the potential for an escalation of far-right protests against those camping on city streets and against counter-demonstrations.

Mr Harris warned of the potential for demonstrations to turn “quite nasty” in the coming weeks with Gardaí having already policed more than 120 anti-immigration protests so far this year.

Mr O’Gorman told colleagues that, while accommodation becoming available in the next few weeks should reduce the number of unac- commodated refugees substantially, his department would still need further housing solutions.

However, Housing Minister, Mr O’Brien said his department was providing some temporary accommodation at a time when it was already under pressure.

He raised the need to do more by way of the provision of pod accommodation for refugees, which is considered quicker to deliver than modular housing.

He also said that it had taken a number of months to sort out lease arrangements with Mr O’Gorman’s department for accommodation that had been provided.

Mr O’Gorman’s comments were seen by those present as an e ort by the Greens to implore Cabinet colleagues for further support on accommodation. e issue was raised by Greens leader Eamon Ryan during ‘any other business’ at the end of the Cabinet meeting and the other senior Green minister, Catherine Martin, also spoke on the issue.

Prices worrying food for thought

In ation is easing they say. Consumer prices only rose by 0.5% month on month according to the gures from the Central Statistics O ce (CSO), the 19th straight month where the annual increase in the CPI has been at least 5.0%.

e CSO published the national average prices for April showing increases on basic foodstu s –sugar up more than 35%, milk more than 20%, butter nearly 19% and eggs up 18% with the overall annual grocery bill up by €1,200 in the past year.

John Ellis Page 16

Plant a tree and eat

some cake

Diana Bura, the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition 2016 winner, at the announcement that he BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition returns to the RDS from January 10 to 13, 2024, and will celebrate 60 years of the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition. e exhibition is the largest celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) for young people on the island of Ireland, an all-encompassing celebration of science and technology under one roof.

BT Ireland, the communications services company, and the education charity, Young Scientist & Technology of the Year Limited (YSE ltd), have also announced that they have extended their partnership for a further three years through to the 2026.

Applications will open in late August 2024.