Tipperary TD Jackie Cahill says he fully understands the concerns of the community in Dundrum in respect of the possible creation of an IPAS accommodation centre at the Dundrum House Hotel complex. The Department of Integration announced plans in late May to use part of the complex for asylum seekers while over 200 Ukrainian refugees are accommodated in another part of the complex. Residents are concerned that the entire complex might be used as an IPAS accommodation centre to ensure maximum occupancy for the property owner.
Deputy Cahill says he is opposed to asking the existing refugees from Ukraine to leave the complex especially as he says there is “nowhere” for them to go. The Thurles based TD says he will represent all of the people of Tipperary despite the change in constituency boundaries that will see South Tipperary elect 3 TDs in the next election while Deputy Cahill will be a candidate in North Tipperary. The TD is critical of the drip feed of information about the future use of the complex and says Councillors and TDs are not being updated by the Department of Integration.
In the longer run the TD says the government plan is to have state owned accommodation for people going through the asylum process and less migrants arriving due to a higher number of countries being classified as “safe” by Ireland. Deputy Cahill says he will continue to make the case that small rural villages cannot accommodate large numbers of asylum seekers and that Dundrum House Hotel complex should be available as part of the local tourism and recreation economy.
