Last week it was announced that the contract held by Noel and Patrick Martin to house applicants for International Protection at the East End Hotel, Portarlington, had been withdrawn by IPAS.
That followed reports by Gript on the housing of asylum applicants in multiple residential properties in the town.
However, residents of the estate have told Gript that this address is still occupied by asylum seekers – and that a fight broke out in the house on Saturday night which could be heard around the road.
The Martins, who own several businesses based in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, own Nera Accommodation – a company which has received millions in payments from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY).
Nera Accommodation has, between 2022 and the end of June this year, drawn down over €7 million from IPAS through the Department for the accommodation of persons claiming International Protection.
The announcement by the Department that it was withdrawing the contract was welcomed by local Councillor Aidan Mullins, and residents of Kilnacourt Woods who had raised concerns over a particular house in the Kilnacourt Woods estate where a large number of men who appeared to have a connection with the hotel were staying in a residential property.
That situation had been complicated by the fact that the owner of the house in question has told Gript that none of the people in the house were supposed to be there and that the owner was attempting to have them vacate. The Martins did not respond when asked by Gript about this.
Gript contacted the Department on Friday morning to ask what would now happen to the men who were living at the house.
We specifically asked the Department “What will now become of the men who appear to have been registered at the hotel but are residing at [redacted], and at other locations in the town which appear to be under the control of Noel Martin, the owner of the East End Hotel?”
As background to this we informed the Department that prior to the withdrawal of the contract that “Several of the men contacted us and stated that they were IP applicants but that IPAS had not found them accommodation. They appear to be under the impression that the house in question is owned by Noel Martin to whom they pay rent.”
With regard to our main inquiry regarding the situation of the men now that the East End Hotel owned by the Martins has had its contract withdrawn, the Department emailed us on Friday evening with the following response:
“All international protection applicants who were accommodated by IPAS at the East End Hotel have been made an offer of accommodation at an alternative IPAS location.
People who have applied for international protection to whom IPAS have not been able to offer accommodation are entitled to alternative reception conditions in the form of an increased weekly payment totalling €113.80 per week. They are also entitled to services such as meals and sanitation provided by partner NGOs.
Unaccommodated applicants can apply for re-accommodation in IPAS accommodation, and may be assigned a bed should suitable accommodation become available.”
However, ongoing contacts between Gript and residents of Kilnacourt Woods over the weekend indicated that as at time of publication, the house is still occupied by men who are claiming International Protection.
This was also confirmed to us by the owner of the house who is still attempting to regain possession of the house.
One person in the estate told Gript that, if anything, the situation for the other people living in proximity to the house has grown worse. There was a fight at the house on Saturday night to which the Gardaí were called. They have also called around to the road several times since. There would also appear to have been CCTV cameras installed at the house both front and rear.
We have contacted the Department again to inquire if the men still resident are among those who have been offered alternative accommodation.