Three South Tipperary Fine Gael Councillors are seeking a meeting with the Taoiseach Simon Harris about the Government’s handling of the process to secure accommodation centres for asylum seekers and refugees. The high profile delegation consists of Cllr John Crosse, Cathaoirleach in Tipperary Cahir Cashel MD, Cllr Michael Murphy Mayor of Clonmel and Cllr Declan Burgess, based in Cashel, but currently the Cathaoirleach of Tipperary County Council. The councillors are concerned about the process by which the Department of Integration sources accommodation and the level of engagement with communities and public representatives about the planned centres before contracts are agreed.
Cllr Crosse says he is opposed to the roll out of an International Protection Centre at Dundrum House Hotel as proposed and wants the Government to develop a model of local assessment of needs and community engagement before proceeding with any contract for such a service. Cllr Crosse says the government needs to come forward with “an open check book to fund the services required” for people being accommodated in IPAS centres as there seems to be no shortage of funds for property owners providing the accommodation. Cllr Crosse also indicated that local councillors want to meet with the Department’s Civic Engagement representative Eibhlin Byrne – it is hoped that the meeting with Ms Byrnes and the Taoiseach can be arranged in the next two weeks. The complex at Dundrum is approved to provide accommodation for 277 persons and it is understood that there is no intention to increase the capacity or overall numbers accommodated at this site regardless of the process under which they are accommodated in Ireland.
