Agency confirms intention to house 38 males in Achill centre

CONTROVERSIAL The Achill Head Hotel, where a 20 asylum seekers are now due to be placed next week. (Pic: Google Maps)

Twenty asylum seekers set to arrive on island next week, despite local’s protests

Michael Duffy

THE Reception and Integration Agency at the Department of Justice has this afternoon (Friday) informed an Achill councillor that that it still plans to place asylum seekers in emergency accommodation on the island next week, despite a large meeting held locally and a subsequent decision to halt the move.
Fianna FΡil councillor Paul McNamara has stated that in a conversation with a representative from the Reception and Integration Agency, the agency confirmed its intention to place a total of 38 males in emergency accommodation at The Achill Head Hotel in Pollagh, with 20 due to arrive this Wednesday and 18 more the following week. The spokesperson could not confirm what nationality the men were.
A protest meeting held in Keel on Thursday night was told that ‘no final decision’ would be made by the Department of Justice until it had liaised with the local community.
“I have emailed the Minister for Justice and Equality David Stanton, asking for a meeting with officials from the department, but he has failed to respond,” said Cllr McNamara.
“I have also emailed the Reception and Integration Agency asking for a meeting, and they also have yet to respond in writing.
“However, this morning I spoke with someone from the agency who confirmed there will be in total 38 males availing of the emergency accommodation. Twenty will arrive on Wednesday, the remaining 18 will arrive the following week. Their ages range between early 20s to 50s. The agency cannot confirm the nationality of these men at present,” added Cllr McNamara.
“In regards to how they will be transported over the duration of their stay, I was informed there is a private contract in place with a bus driver. At present, The Achill Head Hotel will provide this emergency accommodation for three months. The Reception and Integration Agency also stated they work closely with the HSE. It is then the job of the HSE to inform local GPs in the area. However, this is not the case, as I have confirmed with local GPs that they were not made aware of an influx of 38 people to the area.”
Cllr McNamara added if he does not received a reply from Minister Staunton or from the Reception and Integration Agency regarding a meeting with the people of Achill, then he and representatives of the Achill community are prepared to travel to Dublin to meet with officials from the Department of Justice or representatives from the Reception Integration Agency.
“Over the past few days I have received negative comments from people throughout the country labeling our community as racist,” added Cllr McNamara.
“I would like to stress we as a community are in no way racist and we pride in welcoming everyone to our island. At the public meeting on Thursday, it was agreed we stood united on the fact that we are happy to integrate asylum seekers looking to start a new life into our villages and local schools in a different manner. The proposal to provide emergency accommodation on the site of The Achill Head Hotel was brought upon a small village with little to no consideration for the people of the village or to the people availing of the emergency accommodation,” added Cllr McNamara.
Many at the meeting also expressed their unhappiness with the current Direct Provision system and its centres, the failings of which have been frequently reported in the national media.
Yesterday, the Minister for Justice, Charlie Flanagan said it is envisaged that the property on Achill Island will be used to house around 40 asylum seekers.
Deputy Flanagan said the premises had been offered to the Department of Justice following a recent tender process and that the accommodation provided in Achill would be temporary in nature. He said ‘an appropriate suite of services’ would be made available to them.
He added that communities had nothing to fear from temporary accommodation arrangements, saying initial fears in some communities rapidly gave way to a ‘warm welcome’.

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See next Tuesday’s edition of The Mayo News for more on this story.