Transportation of International Protection Applicants to Cashel has been 'paused'

The transportation of International Protection Applicants to Cashel has been 'paused' for the time being. 

This week 74 International Protection Applicants were scheduled to arrive at Cashel Holiday Hostel on John's Street in the heart of Cashel town in Tipperary.

The news of their arrival was met with shock and anger amongst townspeople many of whom protested on Monday afternoon, evening and late into the night on John's Street.

Previously, on Sunday evening, there was a public meeting in Halla na Feile which was organised by local activist Liam Browne and attended by over 400 people. 

The situation has changed in the intervening hours, with the news that no International Protection Applicants will be arriving to Cashel on Tuesday. 

Speaking on the matter on Monday evening, local Councillor Declan Burgess said he would continue to monitor the situation “Thankfully, from my direct engagement with the Taoiseach I have managed to get a pause on this move. I wish to confirm there will not be any refugees arriving in the Hostel tomorrow morning,” he said before continuing:

“This deferral is to allow IPAS and Tipperary County Council to engage constructively. This engagement should have taken place on day one. The Department has confirmed again that they weren’t aware of the local authorities involvement, placing homeless citizens into temporary accommodation at this location.”

TD Martin Browne released a statement on the matter, saying said that he too went seeking a solution: “After engaging extensively with Tipperary County Council and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, I have been told that plans to accommodate 74 asylum seekers at the Cashel Town Hostel has been paused in light of the impact the move is having on homeless occupants.”

Both politicians attended the public meeting in Halla na Feile on Sunday night as did Deputy Mattie McGrath who was also in Cashel town on Monday morning. 

Speaking on the matter he said: “In this arbitrary decision, there is an evident disregard for the immediate needs of our local community and the urgent housing requirements of homeless Irish citizens. Repurposing the hostel without engaging with the local community or our local authorities is deeply unsettling.” 

“The failure of either the Minister for Housing, Darragh O'Brien, or the Minister for Integration, Roderic O'Gorman, to consult or provide any information regarding the impact on the homeless population, the local community, and local businesses signifies a lack of concern. The lack of transparency concerning compliance measures addressing the sudden increase in the facility's capacity is causing significant anxiety within the local community.”

“The absence of consultation and transparency in the decision-making process is deeply concerning.”

Local TD Jackie Cahill and local Cashel Councillor, Roger Kennedy also expressed concerns over the use of Cashel Town Hostel for the accommodation of International Protection Applicants which would result in the loss of homeless accommodation in the county.

Deputy Cahill continued by stating that he has spoken to officials in Minister Roderic O’Gorman’s office and is working with Cllr Roger Kennedy closely on this matter:

“I was very surprised to learn today that officials in the Department of Integration were not aware that Cashel Town Hostel was being used by Tipperary County Council for a number of years at this stage to provide emergency and homeless accommodation locally. In my view, this calls into question the viability of this move.”

Cllr Roger Kennedy has made numerous enquiries into this matter since local representatives were made aware of these plans late last week.

Speaking on this today, Cllr Kennedy said: “It is my understanding that only No. 6 John St, Cashel has been listed by the Department as providing accommodation to International Protection Applications, and that this building alone does not have near sufficient capacity to cater for the numbers being suggested this week.

“On top of this, No 6 John St is a listed structure with Tipperary County Council under the Cashel and Environs Development Plan 2013. I also understand that a warning letter was previously issued in relation to this property for unauthorised development.”

Concluding, Deputy Cahill said: “Cllr Kennedy and I have raised these concerns with officials in the Department of Integration. We now understand that the Department is reviewing this decision to determine whether the use of Cashel Town Hostel would be appropriate for such use in light of these facts.”