Residents in Corofin say they will not stand down until they receive absolute assurances that a residential house in the locality won’t be used as asylum seeker accommodation.
It comes despite confirmation from both the Department of Integration and Clare County Council that no offer has been received for the use of the property in the Scool area.
A peaceful demonstration got underway by locals in Scool, Corofin last weekend who were concerned over the provision of emergency accommodation for international protection applicants at a residential property, which they believe is unsuitable.
Minister for Integration, Roderic O’Gorman has since reaffirmed that no offer has been made to for the use of the property in Corofin for International Protection Applicant accommodation and that the situation has arisen as a result of misinformation circulated on social media.
In a statement to Clare FM , the group says, however, they will maintain “a watching brief” and will not be standing down until such time as they have received “absolute assurances from the Minister that the premises won’t be used as a holding centre for asylum seekers”.
They say there’s no point in having a protest a facility at Scool Hill in Ennis or Dublin as it’s “a local issue which is of concern to local people” and they believe it’s appropriate that their protest is held locally.
Locals say the area is “manifestly unsuited” for asylum seeker accommodation due to the “absence of infrastructure, inadequate sewage, water provision and remoteness from social infrastructure”.
Gardaí are investigating the alleged assault of a man in his 70s at the protest site on Sunday, however the group has distanced itself from the incident and maintain its protest will be peaceful, while highlighting local concerns.
The statement says that “under no circumstances should a right to protest be considered an act of intimidation. Any protest will be peaceful but will make the concerns of local people felt”.
