Staff at Dundrum House Hotel complex were informed yesterday that they could not be on site until they were Garda vetted as the property is now considered to be an IPAS centre. The staff involved are working on the golf course, the leisure centre and in the Bar and Restaurant and kitchens serving both Ukrainian refugees and 78 asylum seekers that arrived on Tuesday. Approximately 30 to 40 staff are involved. The staff have been asked to attend the complex this afternoon. Some of the staff are employees of the property owner while others are contractors on site employing staff such as the Golf Club.
Cllr John Crosse the Cathaoirleach of Tipperary Cahir Cashel MD says he is shocked and amazed at yesterday’s development and confirms that the Taoiseach has not facilitated a meeting with local Councillors to discuss the issues causing concern in Dundrum. Cllr Crosse also says that the issue is under the remit of Minister Roderick O’Gorman.
The councillor is clarifying that he is grateful to local Garda Superintendent Eddie Golden for facilitating his attendance at Dundrum House hotel on Tuesday as a public representative to aid dialogue in an effort to ensure a peaceful transfer of the new people into the complex.
The newly arrived asylum seekers are accommodated in the Kilmore Houses – a group of houses approximately 100m from the main hotel building. The Department of Integration says that these houses are “not part of contract discussions with IPAS.” The Department seems to be of the view that the asylum seekers are in a different part of the complex which provides accommodation in part of the main hotel building and a series of self-contained houses.
Correspondence sent by the Civic Engagement team at the Department to Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath TD says that an “IPAS contract for Dundrum House Hotel is still under negotiation.” The TD met with the Civic Engagement Team accompanied by members of the Dundrum community in July to outline his concerns about the suitability of the facility for use as an IPAS centre.
