The Finnish Immigration Service on Thursday decided to reduce 87 more beds at the country’s asylum centres accommodating unaccompanied minors by the end of October.

The Immigration Service has informed those in charge of reception centres of the new termination of contracts, said an official press release.

In 2016, a reduction of more than 22,000 beds at the reception centres was announced. The reduction of beds continues as the number of asylum seekers has decreased.

It is expensive to maintain unnecessary accommodation capacity. That’s why the goal is to keep the number of beds as close to the real demand as possible at all times, said the Immigration Services.

The goal of the Finnish Immigration Service is to maintain a 90 per cent occupancy rate at the reception centres.

There are now approximately 16,000 beds at the reception centres.

Earlier, the authorities announced a reduction of 2,900 beds in February 2016, 7,200 beds in March 2016, 5,700 in May 2016, 2,200 in September 2016, 1,800 in October 2016, 2,400 beds in December 2016, and 1,100 beds in February 2017.

The authorities also have decided to close down six refugee centres by October 31 this year. The centres are Helsinki, Karhusaari Group Home, Helsinki Deaconess Institute Foundation with the capacity of 14 beds, Hämeenlinna, Harviala Group Home and Supported Housing Unit, the National Institute for Health and Welfare (state-run reform schools) of 24-bed accommodation capacity, Jyväskylä, Vaajakoski Group Home, SOS-lapsikyläsäätiö with 14 beds, Kontiolahti Group Home, LukkarilaKodit Oy with seven beds, Nurmijärvi, Vantala Group Home, Kalliola Patron’s Association with four beds, Oulu, Onnela Group Home, and Save the Children with the capacity of 14 beds.