*Protesters in Kilrush on Wednesday evening.
A SUSPECTED arson attack was carried out on a Kilrush premises earmarked for use to house 27 refugees.
No injuries have been reported following the incident which took place in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána told The Clare Echo, “Gardaí are investigating a criminal damage incident which occurred at a property on Henry Street in Kilrush, Co. Clare during the early hours of Wednesday morning, 4th September 2024. There have been no reports of any injuries”.
On Tuesday, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth announced that The Central Hostel B&B located on 46 Henry Street, Kilrush was to be used for housing 27 refugees. The capacity is for 27 people in 15 rooms and is specifically for adult male international protection applicants.
Kilrush residents held a small protest outside The Central Hostel on Wednesday evening in the first public demonstration since the plans were announced. Refugees and asylum seekers have been welcomed in all corners of Clare, since Direct Provision began in 2000 and following the invasion of Ukraine which led to more asylum seekers relocating to Clare, this is the first instance of a suspected arson attack as a form of protest in the county.
According to the Department, a one-year contract has been signed with the provider. “It is not possible to say with certainty what the length of stay will be having regard to the number of people applying for international protection arriving in Ireland and the scarcity of alternative accommodation”.
The Central B&B is located in the town centre of Kilrush. The accommodation consists of 15 bedrooms varying in size. There are sufficient numbers of bathrooms at the required ratios. There will be a Full Board service provided on this site. Residents will be provided with three meals per day. Each resident will have toiletries replenished weekly and other essentials such as toilet paper replenished as needed. The facility will have high speed fibre Wi-Fi. Fire alarms, fire-fighting equipment and security cameras fitted throughout the common walking areas.
The property is owned by David English Electrical Rewinds LTD. David English Electrical Rewinds LTD is operating the site with staff on-site 24 hours a day and there will be a manager and two security staff on site at all times. The owner/facilities management company have previous experience in the provision of accommodation centres for IPAS. In addition, the Centre Management team in IPAS have developed and rolled out as a pilot initially a training programme for all centre managers to take part in and this will be offered to the provider.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) said there was frustration in Kilrush as the facility was ideally placed to accommodate workers in Moneypoint who will now be forced to seek accommodation elsewhere and the consequence is that the Town will lose out on the potential economic impact.
He stated, “When will the Department listen. There isn’t GP or dental capacity in the town at the minute. Medical services are under severe pressure. Recently the minister stated that West Clare would be ok economical as Moneypoint was coming, there isn’t a bed to be got in town so all the spend will now be lost. Local tourism facilities have moved from Kilrush due to the lack of bed nights. Cities are better able to facilitate IPA rather than struggling rural towns”.
Cllr Lynch cited a growing number of rural pub closures and said publicans in Kilrush had been hopeful of getting a boost from Moneypoint workers living in the town. He said locals are already unable to avail of dentist services with some directed towards Limerick, over 70km away.
Speaking prior to the attempted arson, Cllr Lynch said there wasn’t a feeling of racism in Kilrush but rather a frustration that once again the town had been ignored when it came to economic opportunities.
The move also comes three months on from over 100 Ukrainians who had been settled and welcomed into the village of Kilbaha getting moved by the Department.
There will be at least a manager and two security staff members on site each day to include cleaners attending to any needs. Security will be present on site at all times and CCTV footage will be in place. A valid fire cert is in place and has been provided to the Department. All supporting fire and insurance documentation has been received.
International Protection applicants cannot access the labour market for the first six months that they are in Ireland. After 5 months, international protection applicants can apply to the Department of Justice for permission to access the labour market and if granted, this permission will only become valid 6 months after the date of application for international protection. Most of the residents will be new arrivals. Many who have found work are making a positive contribution to the local and national economies, particularly in areas where there are skills shortages.
