Alarm is reported to have been expressed at the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party tonight, during a lengthy discussion on migration, after TDs and Senators were warned that there could be between 26,000 to 30,000 asylum applications this year.
Minister for Finance Michael McGrath is said to have told the private meeting at Leinster House that the problem had "exploded", and that the Government's management of the issue needed to improve.
It is understood that several of the speakers from the floor expressed concern about how the Government is communicating its message.
Other Ministers attending the meeting were Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien and Health Minister Stephen Donnelly.
Party leader and Tánaiste Micheál Martin was at the PDFORRA conference as well as canvassing in the European Parliament elections.
It is understood deputy James O'Connor raised concerns about the failure to provide wrap-around supports to communities and towns that have accepted large numbers of migrants.
During the meeting, it is understood that Minister McGrath said migration had "exploded as a political issue".
He told his party's TDs, Senators and MEP's that public concern over the issue was now very much mainstream, and that improvements were needed at Government level.
'Up to 30,000' asylum applications expected this year
Alarm is reported to have been expressed at the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party tonight, during a lengthy discussion on migration, after TDs and Senators were warned that there could be between 26,000 to 30,000 asylum applications this year.
