Plans to house asylum seekers or refugees in Arklow town scrapped

Plans to house asylum seekers in a disused Eir building just outside of Arklow town have been withdrawn. 

Last week hundreds of locals marched through the town expressing dismay at the government’s decision to house an as then unconfirmed number of migrants seeking international protection or Ukrainian refugees in the building. 

“Arklow Says No” pic.twitter.com/TFPn4qLUI8

— gript (@griptmedia) February 10, 2024

In a statement ‘Arklow Says No’ said that a statement issued yesterday evening by local Councillor Peer Leonard was “very welcome”.

“The Arklow Says No Campaign were already notified of this very positive development but were asked to wait until official confirmation was received and the process of delisting the site as an accommodation location had been signed off.”

“We await that written confirmation.” it said.

“We are very hopeful that this will bring our positive, community based, and supported protest to an end. Needless to say, we will return if any other proposal to utilize the building for IPAS purposes is brought forward. Any potential bidders that seek to achieve this goal will meet with the same kind of peaceful community resistance.” the statement continued.

“Until we have total written confirmation, we remain in place. Nevertheless, we are amazed by the outpouring of public support and the many acts of generosity from local businesses. This protest has generated enormous awareness of the damage government policy is creating.”

The Arklow Says No Campaign expressed special thanks to Independent TD for Laois Offaly Carol Nolan, who it said “first broke the news to us following her determination to assist the locals who were operating in a vacuum of knowledge.”

Local Cllr Pat Fitzgerald was also thanked as being “the only local Cllr to state on public media he would unequivocally stand behind us and acknowledge us a group of ordinary decent residents with real concerns.”

Yesterday evening Councillor Peir Leonard said in a statement that she had been informed “verbally that all open cases of enquiry with regard to use of the building by IPAS had now ceased. 

This is said was in respect of both the housing of international protection applicants and Ukrainian refugees. 

However Leonard pointed out that this “does not mean that it mightn’t be looked at in the future” adding that but for now “all engagements with the Dept have been closed by speculated purchaser,” 

Commenting on the removal of graffiti saying “No IPAS here” which was sprayed on a wall of the building she said she was “seeking confirmation” in writing of the decision to cancel the IPAS application and would keep people informed.  

“As a community we will need to have a wider discussion about the lack of communication from Government about the severe lack of information, communication and respect for local councillors , local communities and new communities,” she said. 

Last week Gript reported from the scene when hundreds of concerned Arklow locals took to the streets to voice their opposition to the establishment of the centre. 

Concerns such as lack of available local housing in Arklow in particular, but County Wicklow in general, an existing issue with homelessness, and safety concerns were raised.