BREAKING: Hotel in Tipperary to accept 160 international asylum seekers

Roscrea's only currently operating hotel, the Rackett Hally Hotel and Country Club, will soon accept 160 people seeking international protection, the Tribune has learned.

It is expected the Tipperary hotel will start accommodating refugees from tomorrow (Friday Jan 12) as part of a 12-month contract.

The Department of Integration has informed local TD Jackie Cahill that the Racket Hall in Roscrea is to accept 160 Ukrainian nationals under the Temporary Protection Application process.

Deputy Cahill told the Midland Tribune he received a phone call this afternoon from Minister O’Gorman’s office informing him that the Racket Hall in Roscrea is due to accommodate 160 people described as "families of International Protection Applicants".

“I spoke to Minister O’Gorman directly on the phone this afternoon to clarify some points on today’s announcement. I can confirm that the Minister informed me that families of International Protection Applicants will be provided with accommodation in the Racket Hall in Roscrea.

“I also stressed to the Minister the urgent need for additional resources and services for the town of Roscrea to accommodate these additional numbers moving into the town. I informed the Minister that I was of the view that Roscrea deserved further funding under the Community Recognition Fund and I will be working with officials to secure funding for Roscrea under this in future rounds of funding”, Deputy Cahill told this site.

“I would have concerns in relation to the available infrastructure and resources in Roscrea to cater for these new arrivals into the town. This is something I have raised on numerous occasions previously, including in the Dáil. Particularly in relation to healthcare and education, it is vital that we see the supports following so that services that are under pressure in the town are adequately provided for.

“I have made this point to my Government colleague, Minister O’Gorman today. I have also raised the fact that Roscrea needs to receive increased funding under the Community Recognition Fund in acknowledgement of the amount of work this town is doing in providing accommodation and services for those fleeing war.

“I will continue to raise these points with my colleagues in Government so that Roscrea gets the funding and supports it needs and deserves”, Deputy Cahill said.

Sinn Féin local election candidate for the Roscrea Templemore LEA Breandán Ó Conchúir said he has written to the Minisiter for Integration to express his concern over the recent decision to house ayslum seekers in the Racket Hall hotel and asked what increased funding has been made available to ensure local services can meet the needs of both locals and those being kept in the Racket Hall.

Breandán Ó'Conchúir said: "This is yet another example of the failed asylum policy of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and the Greens, who are continuing to house asylum seekers in privately owned and ran direct provision centres, who's owners make substantial profits from the state. Sinn Féin has always opposed this system and continue to do so", he said.

"Less than a year on from the decision to house Ukrainians in the old convent, yet it appears the government has learned nothing from that experience and once again is making decisions without informing locals or ensuring services are in place.

"I raised these concerns around the unsuitability of direct provision, the need for improved services, and community engagement with the Minister back in May in relation to the Convent and none of these concerns have been addressed’.

"It simply isn’t good enough from the government ‘Roscrea has welcomed people from all over the world into their community over the years, the last census showed 17% of the population of Roscrea was from non-Irish ethnic backgrounds, these people live and work locally and have by and large integrated into the community.

"However you cannot have integration without honesty, and it is clear the government is not interested in honesty. I also would have concerns as to the change of the Racket hall from a hotel to a direct provision centre, it is the only hotel in the town and any effort to develop tourism in the area will suffer if we do not have accommodation.

"And of course the hotel is almost 3 kilometres from the town along a road without a footpath. We’ve already seen in Dundrum in the south of the county where Ukrainians are being accommodated in a similar situation the council has refused to install a footpath.

"Once again we are seeing a lack of planning and a lack of communication from the government - communities deserve better", Mr Ó'Conchúir said.

More on this story as it happens.