Residents of Kilrush, County Clare have said they are “aggrieved” by the actions of the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) in opening up a new centre for single male asylum seekers in their town.
Members of community action group “Kilrush Says No” say they were not consulted about plans to house 27 single males in a disused BnB in the town and that the loss of the amenity – although recentlynot in operation – would have a negative impact on the local community and economy.
Last week the Department of Integration confirmed that IPAS has leased the Central BnB for a period of one year however it said that, “It is not possible to say with certainty what the length of stay will be having regard to the number of people applying for international protection arriving in Ireland and the scarcity of alternative accommodation”.
Speaking to the Clare Echo, local Cllr. Ian Lynch expressed concern at the leasing to IPAS of a facility that he said was ideally placed to accommodate workers in Moneypoint who will now have to go elsewhere causing an economic loss to the town and its businesses.
“When will the Department listen?” he asked.
The independent Cllr. continued, “There isn’t GP or dental capacity in the town at the minute. Medical services are under severe pressure. Recently the minister stated that West Clare would be ok economical as Moneypoint was coming, there isn’t a bed to be got in town so all the spend will now be lost. Local tourism facilities have moved from Kilrush due to the lack of bed nights. Cities are better able to facilitate IPA rather than struggling rural towns”.
Members of ‘Kilrush Says No’ have been staging “peaceful gatherings” outside the building set to house the international protection applicants with local man Roy Danagher telling Clare FM that the lack of criminal background checks of the men that will be housed there is a cause of concern due to the centre’s proximity to two schools.
Speaking of the concerns he said, [T]he long and short of it is, is that we have two primary schools directly around the corner, within 100 yards of this premises,”.
Danagher said there had been “no consultation” and that”no regard” had been shown by IPAS “for the safety of kids” in the area.
Danagher recently posted a video message to the owners of the former BnB on Henry Street, Kilrush “begging” them to reconsider leasing the property to IPAS and to “do what’s right” on behalf of the “kids, women, families” and the schools in the area,
While the protests in the town continue, the West Clare Family Resource Centre has welcomed the news of the new IPAS centre saying the town “should be very proud” of the way it has “welcomed and supported people seeking safety from many parts of the world in the last number of years,”.
It said it has “become increasingly aware” of “a very small number of people in our community who wish to divide and spread fear and disinformation amongst us.”
Maura Cusak who runs a Facebook page for ‘Kilrush Says No’- which currently has approximately 1,100 members – echoed Danagher’s sentiments about that lack of consultation.
Cusak said that the area was already hosting 25 male international protection applicants saying that she felt other areas would be better suited to cater to them like “towns and cities”.
In reaction to the recent suspected arson attempt on the premises Cusak said the incident was “very worrying” and that members of ‘Kilrush Says No were “totally against this”.
In relation to the fire at the premises last week a Garda spokesperson said, “Gardaí are investigating a criminal damage incident which occurred at a property on Henry Street in Kilrush, Co. Clare during the early hours of Wednesday morning, 4th September 2024. There have been no reports of any injuries”.
Two women, Ann Ryan and Antoinette Lewis, who said they live next door to the proposed centre said they had not received any information on the plans for the building.
Ryan said she felt “particularly aggrieved because we live right next door, and we were never consulted,”.
She said that there had been noise and movement in the building recently but that no indication had been given as to what was going on saying she was “disgusted” by the behaviour of the Department of Integration.
Gript understands that TD Cathal Crowe is to attend a meeting with residents in the area tonight to discuss the opening of the centre.