Refugees/Asylum Seekers - Advocacy

In Ireland responsibility for the admission of asylum seekers to our country, and their care while they go through the asylum application process rests with the Reception and Integration Agency of the Department of Justice. The servicing of Direct Provision Centres and the employment of personnel to look after the needs of asylum seekers is generally contracted out to companies who administer the hostels and centres.

Sisters of Mercy throughout the country have from the start responded to the challenge of welcoming and supporting strangers from afar.
In the Western Province the spirit of Mercy inspires our sisters to support asylum seekers who can spend any length of time from one year to four or five years living in cramped conditions in Direct Provision Centres. There is much opportunity for being the compassionate face of God to those who suffer boredom and frustration through having to share facilities with others, not having the right to work and not being allowed to access second or third level education.


Sisters minister to them in many ways - visiting, befriending, providing English language classes, helping with literacy, offering interpreting services to prisoners who because of language barriers are unable to communicate, providing life skills and information services.

Back to Our Work