The proposal for a refugee centre on a 3.6-hectare plot near the Robert Schaffner roundabout, commonly known as "Irgäertchen," situated between the motorway and a contractor's depot, is in the spotlight amid a shortage of reception places for refugees.
The envisioned facility aims to accommodate up to 650 refugees and one of these structures is meant to replace the current "Shuk," an emergency accommodation structure in Kirchberg.
Outlined in the project presented to the Public Works Committee in October 2021, the site is also planned to include a building to host individuals facing deportation proceedings after the rejection of their asylum applications. In addition, the plans incorporate amenities such as six classrooms, sports facilities, spaces for medical and psychosocial care, as well as administrative services.
While the preliminary studies have been completed, the project's progression hinges on approval decisions from both the government and the municipality of Luxembourg City. The proposal is part of a series of major infrastructure projects presented in 2021, all requiring authorisation from the Chamber of Deputies to secure funding for detailed studies and preliminary designs.
As of the latest update provided by the Ministry of Public Works to our colleagues from RTL Télé, the government and the municipality are presently awaiting decisions on whether to greenlight the Irgäertchen project.
"The country is bigger than the capital!"
"There's no news," says Lydie Polfer. The Mayor of Luxembourg City has been opposed to the project from the outset, asserting that the chosen location is not conducive for long-term housing. She has raised concerns that concentrating a large population in this area would lead to the creation of a ghetto, as highlighted in an RTL report from March 2022.
Following a recent municipal council meeting, Mayor Polfer was questioned about the potential heightened pressure on Luxembourg City, considering the current challenges, including overflowing reception facilities and waiting lists for male migrants under the Dublin system. In response, Polfer emphasised, "In any case, there won't be additional pressure on Luxembourg City because we already receive most of them, and the country is bigger than the capital."
The Ministry of Home Affairs, responsible for the issue, outlined the next steps: "This project will be analysed by the new government based on the various studies carried out by the Ministry of Public Works, and decisions will be taken accordingly. No specific date has yet been set."
Despite being presented to the committee two years ago, uncertainty thus looms over the timeline for the construction of the emergency reception facility at Irgäertchen. The pressing need for additional accommodation places exacerbates the urgency of resolving this situation.
Full report by RTL Télé (in Luxembourgish)
