An office complex in Limerick City is earmarked as asylum seeker accommodation with plans to house up to 340 individuals.
The five-storey office building was built in the 1980s and was the premises of Revenue Commissioner staff until 2022.
The Limerick Leader reported that River House on Charlotte’s Quay has been offered to the Department of Integration to house hundreds of international protection applicants.
It was reported that a briefing note sent to local representatives said that “It is estimated at this early stage that in the region of 340 people may be housed there, initially on a phased basis.”
“An experienced and trusted accommodation provider has expressed an interest in the delivery of accommodation services to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the provider is now carrying out works at the site with the view to providing accommodation to people seeking international protection,” it continued.
“The capacity of the property is subject to change as the works progress and necessary inspections are conducted. All contracted accommodation includes staffing, both management, operation and security staff,”.
The Limerick Post reported the owner of the building as being Tony O’Neill and Peppard Construction Ltd, saying they “gave a seven day notice to Limerick City and County Council notifying them of his intention to change the use of the building and giving notice of his intent to start works on the building,”.
It was also reported that a unit on the Ballyshannon Road is also set to be leased to the International Protection Accommodation Service while 2,500 Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTP) are now residing in Limerick City.
“A warehouse unit which used to be home to Roadbridge building contractors is set to be converted to hold six ground floor residential units to house those seeking international protection.” according to the Limerick Post.
As Gript previously reported , Riverbrook nursing home at Castleconnell, County Limerick closed in April 2022 with the loss of 31 jobs and the transfer of 22 residents in order to house Ukrainian BOTPs.
Dr, Matt Treacy reported that since turning over to IPAS “between the second quarter of 2022 and the end of March this year, the company who owns the former nursing home, Rosary Hill House Limited, has drawn down €2,257,520 in payments for the provision of accommodation made through the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY).”