Communities across Tipperary are ‘overwhelmed’ by asylum seekers

The dust has settled on the news that the Government has reversed a previous plan to house 74 International Protection Applicants in Cashel Town Hostel however the recent upheaval has kept the townsfolk on alert. 

They are conscious of the possibility of change again and the feeling is that better communication will prevent issues from becoming as sharp in the mind in future. 

The plan was reversed as the premises is being used by the council as emergency accommodation for those at risk of homelessness.

Tipperary Sinn Féin TD Martin Browne  was at the recent meeting at Halla na Féile in the town called after the news was announced that the IPAs were going to be going to Cashel - which was subsequently reversed - and that night he said he would garner information on the matter.

In recent days he said he welcomed the decision by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to reverse its decision to use Cashel Town Hostel as accommodation for International Protection Applicants, which would have seen emergency accommodation for Tipperary’s homeless people removed.

He said: “The Department claims that it was not initially made aware of the fact that the Hostel was being used for people experiencing homelessness. If this is indeed the case, it indicates the Government’s approach to housing people seeking international protection is chaotic at best.

“This error is the consequence of a lack of engagement with public and community representatives, because if there had been adequate engagement, the Department would have been well aware that beds at the hostel were being used by people experiencing homelessness.

“This lack of proper planning also resulted in people experiencing homelessness being told to vacate the premises ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend, with no other housing options available to them at the time.

“While the Department may claim that these consequences were unintentional on its part, it is still unacceptable that these people bore the consequences of its mistake which was due to a lack of communication locally.

“This lack of communication is self-defeating, and this is clear through the very fact that if the Department had engaged with public representatives and community representatives, the error the department made could have been avoided.

“Proper communication has also caused a tremendous amount of anxiety locally, and the Department needs to learn from this – something I have outlined in no uncertain terms. It is now important that the people who were removed from emergency accommodation to facilitate this change of purpose must have their accommodation restored but it is also important that the availability of emergency accommodation is reassessed.

“There is not enough emergency accommodation in county Tipperary, and these recent events have shown us all how an over-reliance on one provider can break the system of homelessness services that provider’s ability to accommodate people is compromised.

“I have requested a meeting for all Oireachtas members with the County Council’s Director of Housing Services to discuss this.

“To conclude; when the Department has plans that affect a locality, it must engage. It must learn from this error.”

Deputy Mattie McGrath also commented on the matter saying: “This is the right decision, and the Department now acknowledges its rushed and erroneous decision without considering the impact on the local homeless community in south Tipperary.

“The outcome of this process has resulted in a sensible decision, one that I welcome.

“The Department and the government must learn from this situation as the lack of consultation with local communities is utterly unacceptable. The local community in Cashel, including the homeless community in South Tipperary, should not have endured this ordeal.

“Measures must be taken to prevent such incidents from reoccurring elsewhere.

“While the Department might attribute the lack of full disclosure to the property owner, it remains the Department’s responsibility to thoroughly assess all accommodation offers before contracts are signed or local announcements made.

“It’s evident that proper protocol was not followed in this case, representing a serious error on the Department’s part.”
 Deputy McGrath concluded, stating: “The current ‘open-door’ immigrant policy accommodating IPA applicants from various regions is unsustainable and contributes to similar situations nationwide.

“It’s crucial for the Government to review this policy, imposing a cap on the number of arrivals to benefit both those seeking accommodation and local communities across the country.”

Speaking on the same matter Deputy Jackie Cahill said: “I welcome the decision of Minister O’Gorman’s Department not to proceed with the use of Cashel Town Hostel to accommodate International Protection Applicants.

“This premises is a vital component in providing homeless and emergency accommodation in Tipperary and it is the correct decision.

“I would like to thank Ministers O’Gorman and O’Brien for their work on this, and officials within the Department who have finally clarified this situation.” 

Deputy Michael Lowry addressed Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderick O’Gorman in the Dáil about the matter.

“Communities are overwhelmed and burdened by the numbers involved,” Deputy Lowry said before continuing:

“Communities in Cashel, Roscrea and across the country are becoming overwhelmed and burdened due to the numbers of asylum seekers residing in their communities.

“This is unacceptable and the current review must take account of the location and it’s suitability,” he said.
He pointed out that it is not just a situation affecting Cashel, but that it is a nationwide issue:

“Roscrea is an ongoing classic example. In recent times this town has been transformed due to the arrival of hundreds of International Protection Applicants.

“The numbers are totally disproportionate to the local population. The vital services in the town cannot cope and are stretched way beyond capacity.

“By degrees, the lives of local people have been changed. Recurring incidents have eroded the sense of security in the town. People do not feel safe on the streets.

“Parents are fearful of allowing their teenagers out after dark. Families and older people have had to increase security in their homes,” he said.

Deputy Lowry emphasised the fact that, in Roscrea, the Garda Station remains closed at night, which is exacerbating the public sense of vulnerability:

“Gardaí are appealing for additional resources. They are short in numbers and under enormous pressure. They are not able to cope with the increase in incidents.

“Communities like Roscrea need support to adapt to the changes imposed on them.
“Their lives have been railroaded by circumstances outside their control.

“Government cannot expect them to accept this without delivering the support and services they need.”

The Minister replied that, in relation to Roscrea, his Department had met with accommodation providers, particularly in terms of ensuring that Childcare Services in one of the locations were protected:

“We will continue to work with the Deputies in terms of ensuring that key services continue to be delivered, and  know that Minister McEntee and the Department of Justice are also aware of the concerns in terms of policing numbers there,” the Deputy added.