Dundrum locals vow to continue protest outside IPAS hotel
It has been one year since round-the-clock protests began outside Dundrum House Hotel, with local TDs now calling on the Minister for Justice and the Dáil's Public Accounts Committee to review a new contract signed with its operators.
Dundrum House is an 18th-century country estate, situated around 14km from both Cashel and Tipperary town.
The hotel building was closed to the public following a ballroom fire in 2015, but its golf resort, restaurant and leisure facility continue to trade.
Locals welcomed 277 Ukrainian refugees to the guest accommodation there in 2022.
However, as many moved on from the facility, political representatives were told on 29 May last year that Dundrum House would begin to accommodate international protection applicants as well as Ukrainian refugees, while details of a new two-year contract confirmed plans to provide 277 beds for international protection applicants there last month.
Local residents have maintained a 24/7 presence at the hotel gates for a year, with people taking turns to attend the makeshift camp where a caravan and tent with a wood-burning stove provide shelter under floodlights.
The camp is surrounded by Irish flags and numerous placards with slogans including "Dundrum says No to Direct Provision", "Peaceful Community Protest Supported by Local Businesses" and "Make Dundrum Great Again".
One of those protesting, Fiona Kennedy, told RTÉ's Drivetime that the camp "has never once been unattended", even on Christmas Day and through extreme winter storms.
Locals are "steadfast" in their view that a village of 220 people cannot cater for 277 international protection applicants, and their main aim is to "get our hotel back" for tourism.
With a number of new arrivals to the hotel this week, Ms Kennedy said locals know it is housing international protection applicants, but "are at a loss to understand how a contract could have been signed".
Ms Kennedy said planning issues were raised by Tipperary County Council, and separately there were "three court cases pending at the moment" relating to Dundrum House.
Local political representatives claimed the two-year contract could be worth €16 million to €20 million following government communications in April confirming that 277 beds would be provided for international protection applicants in Dundrum House.
The property is being operated by Utmasta Limited, a newly formed Spanish-based company with a 20-year lease on the site.
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