International protection applicants (IPAS) who were temporarily housed in Citywest last week, are to be allowed to stay there during the current cold weather, according to the Department of Integration.
The announcement comes after dozens of new applicants received emails yesterday telling them that as the cold weather period had passed, they had to leave the facility by 10am this morning.
The Irish Refugee Council had expressed concern at the move, describing it as "inappropriate and misguided", given that temperatures remain quite low.
However, that decision now appears to have been reversed.
A spokesperson for the department said this afternoon that "during the weather warning period last week, new applicants were temporarily accommodated at Citywest and will remain there during the current cold temperatures."
The spokesperson said that their teams continue to manage a very limited supply of accommodation and are prioritising people with families or who are identified as vulnerable on assessment. "We are keeping the situation under close review and responding to guidance on any further weather warnings."
Additionally, residents at the Crooksling IPAS centre are to remain at indoor accommodation on the site.
Residents from River Lodge will remain at the former Central Mental Hospital site in Dundrum.
