The Government is doing everything it can to put a roof over the heads of International Protection (IP) applicants, but women and children must be prioritised, the Minister for Justice has said.
Helen McEntee denied that the Government had reversed course after it decided not to house men in locations where local protests had taken place.
"We have always said that we will prioritise women and families, but it's becoming more and more challenging to house people in general," she told RTÉ's Morning Ireland, adding that "it changes literally on a daily basis".
2023 arrivals
Just under half of all arrivals seeking international protection last year were single men.
The total number of arrivals last year was 12,329. Of these 5,638 – or 45.7%- were single males
A further 3,472 individuals – or 28% - were part of families with children.
Some 1,883 single women arrived seeking international protection – making up 15.2% of the total.
There were 870 people who arrived as part of a couple – making up seven per cent.
Of the total number of those seeking international protection last year, 2,190 – or 18% - were children.
There was a slight drop off in the number of single men seeking international protection at the start of this year.
There were 334 arrivals in the first week of January 2024 – an average of 47 per day.
These included 110 – or 32% single males; 39 – or 11% single females; 95 children – or 28%.
Two sites not to house young men
The Department of Integration then said that a decision had been taken to make the building available to families - and not young men.
Local representatives in Carlow were then told that 50 men would be accommodated at the former Capuchin friary on Dublin Street in the town, prompting a number of protesters to voice their opposition outside the building yesterday.
The Department of Integration then announced that families - and not young men - would be housed at that property.
Local Fianna Fáil deputy, Jennifer Murnane O'Connor, defended the move, saying that she believes that families should be prioritised.
The Carlow Kilkenny TD said that a lot of local people phoned her to express their concern at the plans, but insisted that people "really just wanted more communication".
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'This is a global problem'
Asked about suspected arson attacks on building earmarked to house IP applicants, Minister McEntee took a sharply different approach.
"Let's not say that it's lack of communication, it's lack of engagement, it's lack of anything. These are criminals, they're criminal acts. They have to be treated as such," she said.
The minister pointed to a threefold increase in the numbers of people seeking international protection in Ireland, with around 100,000 people having already been housed.
Ms McEntee said: "This is a global problem, this is not just Ireland. It's not a temporary problem. We need to be able to respond more permanently."
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Ms McEntee insisted that the Government is "doing everything that we can to house people in the most appropriate way within communities".
"And I think that communities for the most part have supported, have worked with us, have gotten on board and yes, they have questions and concerns and it is our job to try and respond to those as effectively as possible," she said.
A Cabinet colleague said that the Government would not give in to threats.
Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe said that he was reassured by the seriousness with which An Garda Síochána were treating issues, including attacks on buildings.
"We have enough strife, we have enough discord, we have enough signs of what can happen when public debate becomes very, very heated in many other parts of the world," Minister Donohoe said.
"I condemn any form of criminal activity.
"I condemn arson against properties that could be housing those who are very, very vulnerable."
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Mr Donohoe said Ireland will continue to respond to the challenges of accommodation, prioritising women and children but that "we will need to continue to provide that accommodation for single men and more of it in time ahead".
Additional reporting Colman O'Sullivan and Mary Regan
