The community in Dundrum opposed to the creation of a IPAS Accommodation Centre at Dundrum House Hotel have launched a new petition aimed at Tipperary county councillors.
The group say over the next three days they are gathering signatures in Tipperary town Dundrum and in Cashel for a petition that calls on councillors to pass a byelaw to prevent the creation of an IPAS centre. The group say the accept there is a need to provide accommodation for asylum seekers but that the scale proposed is not suitable for Dundrum.
The group who have maintained a peaceful protest at the gates of Dundrum House Hotel say there are not sufficient resources in terms of health, education and public safety and that the use of the complex for this purpose will have a negative impact on local small businesses and tourism related activities in the area.
The petition asks that the councillors draft and implement a byelaw, that community engagement takes place, that the planning legislation be followed and that that the Government explore alternative locations and finally calls on the councillors to act urgently on the matter. The petition can be signed at Cleanline Services in Tipperary town, at Cashel Mart, at Heffernan General Store, at PP O’Dwyer Hardware(both in Dundrum Village) and at the gates of Dundrum House Hotel in Dundrum. The group has also gathered almost 1800 signatures on a different petition on change.org.
A request made by three Tipperary Fine Gael Councillors serving as Cathaoirligh in Tipperary Cahir Cashel MD, Clonmel and County Tipperary for An Taoiseach Simon Harris to meet an all-party delegation on the matter has so far been met with silence. Cllr John Crosse confirms that there was no progress on the request but adds that he would continue to seek such a meeting.
