Tipperary asylum-seeker centre plans scrapped
Independent Tipperary Cllr Máirín McGrath said that in following up on an original statement a few weeks ago, she could confirm that the Department of Integration is no longer considering Abbey House on Abbey Street in Cahir for use as an IPAS centre following an offer by its new owners.
'Tipperary County Council had rejected the Section 5 exemption for this building a number of weeks ago so the contract couldn't go ahead without proper planning approval,' said Cllr McGrath. 'No appeal to this rejection was made by the owners to An Bord Pleanála. The only route this property can change use now is to apply for full planning permission.'
Last week, the Government published a list of accommodation centres returning to their original or alternative use. Among them is Dundrum House Hotel in west Tipperary, which has been the subject of numerous protests and controversies surrounding proposals to offer refuge for international protection applicants.
The Government has announced that in respect of Dundrum House, 31 residents will be relocated by June 1 this year.
'The need for accommodation for people fleeing the war in Ukraine is decreasing across the country,' announced the Department of Justice.
'This means that some Ukraine accommodation centres will be closing, and some people will be asked to move to new accommodation.
'This process was paused during March to allow for greater planning and notice periods for residents. Relocations of residents from some Ukraine properties are now being planned to begin in June and continue throughout the summer period.
'State accommodation contracts may also be ending where compliance issues arise, or where the owner chooses to end their contract.
'Because the Department must ensure value for money and an effective system overall, this means some people will be moved to other locations, if they still require State-contracted accommodation.
'Properties can return to private use, tourism or student use, and a small proportion may be used for International Protection accommodation.'
ADVERTISEMENT
Learn more
The Department will be sending updates, through the accommodation providers, to the residents who will be affected, to let them know that the contract is ending with that provider.
'We will inform them that if they wish to continue to receive State-funded accommodation, it will be provided in another location. We will be giving them the final contracted date of their accommodation, at least 30 days in advance. In some cases, where possible, notice periods of greater than two months are being provided.
'We will also inform people of their options to source their own accommodation if they wish to stay in the area, either through the pledge and Offer a Home schemes, subject to availability, or privately using supports available to them such as rent supplement.
'All residents who request continued State accommodation will be moved. The Department has to make best use of existing accommodation contracts, and so new locations may not be in the same area,' added the Justice spokesperson.
This announcement comes after a €16-€20m contract to house 277 international protection applicants at the hotel was awarded to a Spanish company last month. The move has been widely-criticised and the issue has been referred to the Public Accounts Committee for scrutiny.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
44 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Protest held in Dublin over lack of additional needs education provision
Scores of people have taken part in a demonstration in Dublin calling for action over a shortage of education provision for children with additional needs. It comes after a number of children with autism have not yet received an allocated school place. The Equality in Education protest assembled at the Garden of Remembrance, with many holding banners calling for equality in education provision. It comes after the group slept outside Leinster House in April to highlight the issue. A number of representatives from Opposition parties were in attendance. Sinn Fein president Mary-Lou McDonald said the children are being failed. 'These are children who have an equal right to a full education as any other child. They have parents who in many cases have written literally dozens of applications to various schools only to be told that their child cannot be accommodated,' she said. 'They have mounted a campaign which has seen them sleep outside the Dail … they're here today to simply say that no child should be left behind. Every single child is entitled, socially, morally and legally to an appropriate school place. 'The Government talk a lot about the needs of people with disabilities, they're talking about prioritising the needs of children, well, we're not seeing that here, what we see here are stressed-out, traumatised and very, very distressed parents, and children who are being failed comprehensively. That needs to change. 'Government is well aware of this issue.'
RTÉ News
5 hours ago
- RTÉ News
28 people deported to Nigeria detained prior to flight
Twenty-eight of the 35 people who were deported to Nigeria on a charter flight from Ireland this week were held in custody prior to their deportation. The average length of their detention was 27 days. The figures were provided in response to a request to the Department of Justice by RTÉ's Saturday with Colm Ó Mongáin. In a statement, the Department said a person who is subject of a deportation order can be held for up to 56 days "for the purpose of ensuring their deportation from the State". It added that this was "to facilitate the procurement of travel documentation and the making of arrangements for the deportation flight". Details were not provided on where those deported this week were detained in advance of the flight to Nigeria. However, the Department said there are a number of "prescribed places of detention" which include Castlerea Prsion, Cloverhill Prison, Cork Prison, Limerick Prison, Midlands Prison and Wheatfield Prison. It is understood women detained prior to deportation are held at the Dóchas Centre in Dublin. Detainees can also be held at any garda station. Speaking on RTÉ's Saturday with Colm Ó Mongáin, Fianna Fáil Minister of State Charlie McConalogue said that in some instances it was necessary to detain people in advance of deportation, but this was "hopefully in a small number of circumstances". "The information I have in terms of the women and children involved, there was no detentions there, that there was a date given in advance," Mr McConalogue said. The breakdown of figures for the flight to Nigeria included 21 men, nine women and five children - indicating that at least some women were held in custody prior to their enforced deportation. Speaking on the same programme, Sinn Féin TD Eoin Ó Broin said: "There is no doubt that part of what the very high profile nature of Minister O'Callaghan has done is to try and distract attention away from their failures in terms of running an international protection system that is compassionate, that is human rights rooted, but also that is fair, efficient and ultimately enforced." Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney said the events of Thursday morning was "the stuff of nightmares" for the children deported - as well as the children who witnessed their friends being taken away by gardaí.
Dublin Live
6 hours ago
- Dublin Live
Childcare fees to be capped in money boost for Irish parents
The Minister for Children has announced that childcare fees are soon to be capped at €200 a week for thousands of parents. Norma Foley, Minister for Children, Disability, and Equality, announced earlier this week that a new maximum fee cap for early learning and childcare services participating in Core Funding will be coming into effect this year. An initial maximum fee cap was put in place for new entrants to the scheme last year. A new maximum fee cap will now be introduced for all new and existing services receiving this State funding this September, which will further lower the maximum fees that can be charged depending on the number of hours provided. Under these new maximum fee caps, the highest possible fees will be no more than €295 per week for a full day place of between 40-50 hours per week. This will bring these fees closer to the average weekly fee of €197 for full day care. These fees for parents are then reduced by State subsidies under the National Childcare Scheme and the free, universal two-year Early Childhood Care and Education preschool programme. A parent being charged the maximum permissible fee of €295 per week for a full day place would be entitled to receive the universal National Childcare Scheme subsidy of €96.30. This means a parents co-payment would be no more than €198.70 each week. In addition to this a new maximum fee cap, the unprecedented funding available through Core Funding will ensure the existing fee freeze, which was introduced in 2022, will remain in place for participating services. This will continue to assist parents with children in the majority of services whose fees fall below the new fee caps. Announcing the changes, Minister Foley said: "One of the areas where parents and families are most looking for help is with the cost of early learning and childcare. Since 2020, the amount of State funding in this area has increased from around €600 million to €1.37 billion this year. That has led to a 50% reduction in the cost faced by parents on average and a record number of children – approximately 190,000 – have benefitted from the National Childcare Scheme this year. So there has been progress. But I know that the cost of early learning and childcare is still far too high for many parents. "The extension of maximum fee caps to all services participating in Core Funding will reduce costs for families facing the highest fees in the country. It will address some of the extreme fee disparities across the sector in a meaningful way, so that there are more consistent rates in place for families in their local areas. "It is another step along the way to achieving the commitment in the Programme for Government to a maximum payment by parents of €200 per child per month for early learning and childcare during the lifetime of this government. Core Funding has enjoyed high participation rates to date, with 92 per cent of services taking part. There is going to be a further €60 million increase in State funding for this Scheme in 2025/2026, bringing the total to a record €390 million. I am confident that the increased funding available from September will allow for the continued partnership with for early learning and childcare services." Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
