Offaly Site To Host Asylum Seekers "In The Near Future"

Friday, 9 August 2024 06:49

The Birr premises will house families with children seeking international protection.

An Offaly site is due to be used to house asylum seekers.

The Department of Integration has offered a one-year contract to Spinner's Guesthouse in Birr for the accommodation of up to 35 International Protection Applications.

The site is expected to come on stream in the near future, and will house families with children.

It's unclear how long IPAs will be staying at the premises, as the State continues to grapple with what it describes as a 'scarcity of alternative accommodation.'

Officials are continuing to seek accommodation solutions to the increasing number of arrivals to the country.

It's the second premises in the town to strike an agreement with the State, after Elm Grove House agreed to accommodate as many as 88 IPAs.

Sinn Féin Councillor, Sean Maher, says the addition of 120 asylum seekers will represent Birr's limit:

In a statement to Midlands 103, a spokesperson from the Department of Integration says IPAS centres are operating at full capacity across the accommodation system:

"There are over 31,500 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole (of whom 8,275 are children), compared with approximately 8,700 people at the end of February 2022.

In order to meet the increased demand, emergency centres have been opened in all parts of the country to alleviate pressure in the system.

In relation to Spinner’s Guesthouse, Birr, Co. Offaly, it is intended that this premises will come into use in the near future, to provide accommodation for families with children, seeking international protection. A one-year contract has been offered to the provider and the projected capacity is for up to 35 people.

The Community Engagement Team (CET) issued a detailed briefing note to local elected representatives on 7th August 2024, setting out the details of the accommodation centre including the capacity, contracted service provision and resident profile. The briefing documents are issued to local elected representatives to assist them with in their work at community level, the Local Authority, the Local Development Company and relevant interdepartmental colleagues."