The Finnish Immigration Service will reduce the number of reception centres and accommodation places from 1 July 2014.
The accommodation capacity will be reduced because there are plenty of vacant accommodation places in the reception centres. A little over 400 of the total of 2 440 places are currently vacant. The number of asylum seekers arriving in Finland has not decreased, but the time they spend at the reception centres has reduced due to faster decision-making among other things.
Asylum seekers live in reception centres while their asylum applications are processed. After receiving the decision, they move to municipalities or return to their home countries.
Reception centres in Ruukki and Punkalaidun will be closed down
Two reception centres will be closed down completely: the reception centre in Punkalaidun will close on 1 September 2014, and the reception centre in Ruukki will close on 1 November 2014.
If necessary, the accommodation capacity at the group home in Espoo will be reduced by 7 places, i.e. by one unit, on 1 July. The group home accommodates unaccompanied minor asylum seekers.
When decisions of reducing the accommodation capacity are made, attention is paid, among other things, to the location of the reception centre in relation to other centres and the regions where asylum seekers enter the country. The condition of the property as well as the costs of the unit are also assessed.
Accommodation capacity can be increased quickly
The Finnish Immigration Service closely follows any changes in the number of asylum seekers and their profiles, both in Finland and in the other Nordic countries. The number of accommodation places is reduced in different parts of the country, so that the accommodation capacity can be increased quickly when necessary.
Further information for the media
Director Jorma Kuuluvainen, Reception Unit, tel. 0295 430 431, e-mail: firstname.lastname@migri.fi
