Residents in Inch have vowed to do everything in their power to prevent an emergency accommodation centre being opened at a local hotel.
They voiced their concern at an emergency meeting held in Kilmaley, following confirmation that an agreement has been reached with the operator of Magowna House Hotel in Inch.
An emergency community meeting has been held at the Kilmaley Inn, where residents expressed their concerns over the imminent arrival of up to 69 male International Protection Applicants to Magowna House Hotel in Inch.
Members of the community say they’re shocked over a lack of consultation between the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the local community, ahead of awarding the contract.
They also fear a lack of local services renders the area incapable of handling a significant population influx.
Only last year, the facility at Magowna had been deemed unsuitable for the accommodation of Ukrainian families.
Stressing that the community is not against the provision of accommodation of community integration, local resident Michael Hayes says they’ll do everything they can to stop this centre from opening without adequate community services.
Clare’s Green Party Senator has defended her party colleague and Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderick O’Gorman, saying she believes public representatives were informed on the day the decision was made.
Roisín Garvey isn’t convinced however that opening the accommodation centre there is the right move, as it’s not fit for purpose.
The Inagh Senator believes the Minister should reconsider the decision.
The Department has says emergency centres, of which there were 135 utilised in 2022 across 23 counties, must be considered to prevent homelessness for the unprecedented numbers of people arriving seeking international protection.
But Clare’s Fianna Fáil Senator, Timmy Dooley says this is one of the worst options he’s seen from a road safety and services point of view.
