Latest news with #Ipas
Extra.ie
4 days ago
- Politics
- Extra.ie
Government to buy Citywest Hotel for €148.2 million
The Government has signed off on a €148.2 million deal to acquire the Citywest Hotel and Convention Centre in west Dublin, Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan has announced. The facility, currently being used as a reception centre for asylum seekers and Ukrainian refugees, will be converted into a permanent State-owned screening centre for processing international protection applications. Mr O'Callaghan said the move is a more cost-effective long-term solution than continuing to lease facilities from private providers. 'Over a period of four years, we believe we'd be in the position where we would have got our money back in terms of the investment,' he said. Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan. Pic: Leah Farrell/ 'Over a longer period of time, if you compare what we're spending in the private sector from the amount of money we'll be spending in terms of a state owned entity, over a period of about 25 years, we'll be looking at a saving of 1.25 billion (euro).' He added that the purchase supports the Government's programme commitment to secure 14,000 accommodation units for people seeking asylum. 'It would be far cheaper to own the facility in west Dublin instead of paying private providers for the services and accommodation,' he explained. 'It will be used as a screening centre where applications for asylum will be processed.' Pic: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin While the Citywest facility will continue operating in its current capacity, O'Callaghan confirmed there are no immediate plans to expand its accommodation capacity. 'There are no 'immediate' plans to expand the number of places at Citywest,' he said. The announcement has sparked concern among local residents. Protesters from Saggart gathered outside Leinster House last week to oppose the purchase, citing fears over the loss of public access to the hotel complex and increased strain on local services. Minister of State Colm Brophy addressed the concerns, saying engagement with local representatives would be prioritised to ensure transparency and communication with the community. 'Very importantly, the purchase of Citywest will not result in any immediate increase in numbers,' he said. Pic: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin 'The plan with Citywest is very simply, to develop the asset and make sure that we have the ability, particularly under the Migration Pact, to have a state-of-the-art processing facility whereby people's applications can be cleared within 13 weeks from when they arrive in the country.' Brophy said the decision was made on a strong financial rationale. 'The decision was being made on a 'value for money' basis and that if it is directly owned by the State, it can save around 50% of the operating costs.' He also defended the centre's current operation. 'Citywest has actually been working very effectively in terms of having an Ipas centre there, having Ukrainians also present, and having a range of services and facilities which have been working effectively and successfully for many, many years. 'We are not planning on changing those numbers.'
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Govt green light €148.2m purchase of Dublin hotel & campus to house asylum seekers despite local's anger at move
THE Government has approved the purchase of the Citywest Hotel and Convention Centre for €148.2 million, the Justice Minister has said. Advertisement 2 Jim O'Callaghan said the move is 'value for money' in the long term Credit: PA He said it would be used as a screening centre where applications for Minister O'Callaghan added it was in line with the commitment in the programme for He said there are no 'immediate' plans to expand the number of places at Citywest, which is currently being used as a reception centre for asylum seekers and The Fianna Fail TD said: 'Over a period of four years, we believe we'd be in the position where we would have got our money back in terms of the investment. Advertisement READ MORE IN IRISH NEWS 'Over a longer period of time, if you compare what we're spending in the private sector from the amount of Locals from Saggart protested outside They raised concerns about losing the amenity of the hotel complex and about demand for services. Minister of State Colm Brophy said that local representatives would be engaged with so that the local community is informed. Advertisement Most read in The Irish Sun He said the decision was being made on a 'value for money' basis and that if it is directly owned by the State, it can save around 50 per cent of the operating costs. He said: 'Very importantly, the purchase of Citywest will not result in any immediate increase in numbers. Stark pictures show migrant 'tent city' weaving through roads outside Dublin asylum processing centre 'The plan with Citywest is very simply to develop the asset and make sure that we have the ability, particularly under the Migration Pact, to have a state-of-the-art processing facility whereby people's applications can be cleared within 13 weeks from when they arrive in the country.' He added: 'Citywest has actually been working very effectively in terms of having an Ipas centre there, having Ukrainians also present, and having a range of services and facilities which have been working effectively and successfully for many, many years. Advertisement 'We are not planning on changing those numbers.' 2 The purchase of the Citywest Hotel for €148.2million has been approved Credit:
The Irish Sun
13-06-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
‘It worries me' – Mum pulls son out of Dublin school over fears protests at drop off & collection times could ‘escalate'
A MUM has temporarily taken her eight-year-old son out of his school in Dublin following nearby anti-immigration protests in recent weeks. Andreea-Claudia Calin took her son out of Canal Way Educate Together School in Advertisement A structured tent had been erected close to the The mother-of-two, who is originally from Speaking on She said she made the decision not to send her son to school on Monday. Advertisement Read more in News The mum explained: "I could see my son being anxious, he was asking why there was a tent outside (the school). . . I try to do what's best for my son and keep him home because I was afraid. "It doesn't seem normal and it's not sustainable. "What if things escalate? Today they have an organised protest, more numbers outside of the school." The mother-of-two also said that parents and the local community are worried about the protesters, fearing a potential escalation of the situation. Advertisement Most read in Irish News Breaking Latest The worried mum added that the school principal has been working "tirelessly" to resolve the issue. They also managed to get a Large police presence in Belfast as hundreds gather in Belfast for counter-protest against anti-immigration demonstrators She added: "And I'm one of the lucky people who can do that and keep him home - some parents can't. "It's disheartening. I just got my citizenship, my family got their Irish citizenship. My daughter was born here, my son doesn't know any other home. I've been an immigrant since I was little, I lived for 20 years in Greece and I've seen the situation change there. Advertisement 'IT REALLY WORRIES ME' "It really worries me that I don't feel welcome in a country that I call my home. I don't know what can happen next." In a statement, the principal of Canal Way Educate Together Dermot Stanley said the board is "monitoring" the protests' impact on its school community. He said: "We are always saddened when a "We have notified the departments and ministers of education and justice, An Garda Siochana, Into, Forsa and other relevant stakeholders, seeking a respectful and inclusive resolution that prioritises the wellbeing of our entire community." Advertisement IPAS CENTRE Mr Stanley said the tent structure was moved within two metres from theInternational Protection Accommodation Service (Ipas) centre hall door and four metres from the school. There is one Ipas centre currently in operation at Basin View since 2022. And the Government had plans to expand the centre but they were dropped in recent weeks. 1 There is one Ipas centre currently in operation at Basin View, Dublin 8 Credit: 2024 PA Media, All Rights Reserved Advertisement
Irish Independent
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Aontú councillor ‘wasn't advocating for violence' at meeting about possible Ipas centres in Meath
David Boyne, who is a local councillor for Trim, stood up at a Trim Says No rally on May 30, where he spoke about a recent decision not to permit an International Protection Accommodation Services (Ipas) centre in an industrial unit in the area. Mr Boyne also addressed a separate application that has been lodged for another unit in the centre of Trim town, with a decision expected next week. Before being handed the microphone, Mr Boyne was told he was not allowed to mention politics, including 'f words' that relate to political parties. However, during his speech Mr Boyne said that people power came in two forms, violence or voting. 'I won't mention those words but you know what to do. You know how to stop this,' Mr Boyne said. 'It's people power and people power translates into two things, violence or votes. And if you're not going to do one, do the other.' Last week, Meath County Council decided not to provide Erinpark Ltd with an exemption to turn a unit in Oak Tree Business Park into a centre for international protection applicants. A final decision on a separate application for a premises at Fairgreen, Summerhill Road, is expected on June 10. Mr Boyne said he was not telling those gathered at the meeting to use violence to oppose Ipas centres. 'Absolutely not. I wasn't advocating for violence. The point I was trying to make was people power translates to votes,' Mr Boyne said. 'So, when I said violence or votes, I was referring to the 1916 Rising, which was a violent event, that was people power. That's one way to do it, which nobody wants. Or the other way is votes. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more 'I couldn't talk about politics. I couldn't mention politics and I was trying to link the fact that people power is politics.' The councillor said he hoped that his meaning was not picked up incorrectly. 'The thrust of what I was saying was, violence is bad. Don't do that. Voting is good. Do that,' Mr Boyne said. An Aontú spokesperson said it was 'absolutely ridiculous' to suggest that Mr Boyne was inciting violence. 'Anyone who knows him would find this allegation outrageous. Cllr Boyne is on the public record a number of times calling on people not to take matters into their own hands and not to touch property,' the party said. At a previous meeting on international protection centres in the area, Mr Boyne told those gathered that 'anyone here that might be of a mind to take matters into their own hands, do not touch that building'. The spokesperson added that while Mr Boyne's language was 'very clunky', the councillor had asked people to translate their people power into votes. 'Cllr Boyne is a brand new councillor. He was elected less than a year ago. He hasn't had much experience in public speaking, yet he has been thrown into the deep end, trying to help communities grapple with the Ipas system,' the spokesperson said. They added that it was 'unfair' for Mr Boyne's words to be portrayed as anything other than peaceful, because 'he misspoke once'.
Irish Times
20-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
‘Children can't even move in their beds they are so small': Cramped and damp conditions in some Ipas centres
Residents of an International Protection Accommodation Services (Ipas) centre in Co Westmeath have reported difficulties accessing medical appointments due to limited transport with some calling emergency services on 'occasions when out-of-hours services may have been more appropriate', said the State's health watchdog. Inspection reports from the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) into seven permanent Ipas centres also describe cramped and damp conditions in some with nappies and toiletries not provided for. An unannounced inspection of the Temple Accommodation Centre in Co Westmeath last February found that single people applying for international protection shared their bedrooms with up to three unrelated residents and 'in one case, four unrelated residents'. The allocation of accommodation did not always promote the 'privacy and dignity of residents' due to the configuration of the accommodation provided, the inspection report said. READ MORE It noted the centre was in a rural location and residents who did not have their own transport were dependent on the service providers to leave the centre. A bus service to a small town nearby was available twice daily from Monday to Thursday and once each Friday, it said. As the centre was nine kilometres from the nearest town, bicycles and scooters were not always suitable. 'Some residents reported difficulties accessing medical appointments due to limited transport and the inspectors noted that residents called emergency services on occasions when out-of-hours services may have been more appropriate,' it said. 'The service provider had not assessed these challenges or the associated risks.' Overall, Temple Accommodation Centre along with Dominick Street Complex in Co Galway, Athlone Accommodation Centre in Co Westmeath, Dublin Central Inn in Co Dublin and St Patrick's Accommodation Centre Co Monaghan had 'varying' levels of compliance with Hiqa's standards. Eglinton Centre in Co Galway and Slaney Court Apartments in Co Wicklow were found to have no non-compliances identified against the national standards. Where noncompliance with the standards was identified, providers were required to submit plans to demonstrate how they will make improvements and come into compliance with them. An unannounced inspection of Athlone Accommodation Centre in March found while it was evident upgrade works were ongoing to mobile homes, 'living arrangements were not adequate to meet the needs of some residents'. 'Mobile homes were often cramped due to their size and residents did not have suitable space in many instances to store their belongings,' the inspection report said. 'While staff did their best to improve living conditions for residents, the type of accommodation provided in this centre did not fully support some residents' rights and impacted on the wellbeing and overall quality of life for families.' Some residents said 'children can't even move in their beds they are so small', 'conditions are cramped and I've nowhere to study or complete college work'. Other residents there spoke of 'their deep concern about the damp conditions and poor ventilation' in the mobile homes, which they felt had caused 'their families to become ill'. Inspectors were told by residents that staff were doing their best to support them in this situation and that the maintenance staff team had gone to 'great efforts to remove mould from mobile homes and improve living conditions for them'. Inspectors were also informed by management and some families that, particularly in the case of secondary school places, some children had to travel 'considerable distances' to their school, due to a shortage of spaces locally. At the Dublin Central Inn, inspectors observed 'overcrowding' in some of the family units with parents and children sharing a room and 'compromising their dignity and privacy'. Two residents also noted they did not feel 'adequately supported to live a meaningful life in the centre' and some indicated a limited awareness of centre policies and procedures, the inspection report said.
