THE government is being forced to provide extra overnight accommodation to asylum seekers who have to attend interviews in Dublin.

Refugees in Donegal are not allowed to cross the border into Northern Ireland and are being forced on a lengthy detour instead. It means dozens of asylum seekers based in the northwest then have to be put up on arrival in Dublin.

The situation has arisen after new restrictions on the movement of non-nationals were introduced by the British government. The new rules mean asylum seekers could be liable for arrest or imprisonment if they make any attempt to cross the border, even if their final destination is in the Republic.

Under previous arrangements, the asylum seekers used to catch a bus directly to Dublin from Donegal, which would pass through Enniskillen and other towns in the North.

However, the applicants now have to catch a bus to Sligo then wait for another bus to take them to Dublin.

Free tickets are provided for the journey, but they cannot catch the train in Sligo as the vouchers are valid only for the bus.

"It costs more, it is inconvenient and it is unfair on asylum seekers who could face arrest or imprisonment for no good reason," said Labour TD Joe Costello.

"In this day and age of cutting budgets, it seems ridiculous that the Department of Justice can not come to some kind of agreement with the authorities in the North.

"This is causing massive inconvenience for very vulnerable people, forcing them on two-day journeys to Dublin away from their support networks."

Labour Party activist Seamus Carbin, who works with the local asylum-seeker support group, said: "There are about 25 people or so in the hostel at the moment and most of them are from Africa. When they are seeking asylum, they have to attend an interview in Dublin. The journey can take up to seven hours."

The Department of Justice said it had been in consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs in the hope of reaching an agreement with the British authorities.