Latest news with #IPAS
Irish Times
a day ago
- General
- Irish Times
People with right to remain in Ireland stuck in direct provision centres due to lack of housing, Hiqa finds
More than 20 per cent of people living in seven direct provision centres could not move out despite having permission to stay in Ireland due to a shortage of housing , according to reports from the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa). The reports covered International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres in counties Cork, Kerry, Louth, Galway and Waterford. In addition to noting how many residents are in each centre, they record how many have been granted refugee status or subsidiary protection allowing them to move out and to look for their own housing. In two centres – Birchwood House in Co Waterford and Millstreet Accommodation Centre in Co Cork – 42 per cent of residents were stuck there, having been granted international protection but unable to leave. READ MORE Regarding Birchwood House, Hiqa said: 'While the primary function of the centre was to provide accommodation to people seeking international protection, the inspectors found that 54 (42 per cent) of the residents had received refugee, subsidiary protection or leave to remain status. 'Due to the lack of alternative accommodation, they were unable to avail of more appropriate accommodation arrangements in the community.' In Millstreet, where 109 of the 260 residents had refugee status or another right to remain, the report said 42 per cent of residents 'had received notice to seek private accommodation' outside of the centre. 'Due to the lack of alternative accommodation available this was not always possible.' At Carroll Village IPAS centre in Co Louth, 26 of the 88 residents (29.5 per cent) had the right to remain at the time of the inspection, March 19th and 20th last, but could not find housing. [ One in four single people seeking emergency accommodation are from direct provision, say homeless agencies Opens in new window ] At Park Lodge in Co Kerry, nine of the 51 residents (17 per cent) had permission to remain. This fell to 4.4 per cent at Linden House, Co Kerry, 4.7 per cent at Great Western House in Co Galway and 5.4 per cent at Ashbourne House in Glounthaune, Co Cork. The Department of Justice is seeking to source additional IPAS accommodation due to continued pressure for beds in the system. The most recent data from the department, published on June 20th, shows there were 2,577 male adult asylum seekers 'awaiting offers of accommodation'. Figures released last week show the department has received 131 offers from property owners of buildings to be used as IPAS centres. These were being 'worked through and assessed', meaning it was not possible to state how many of the 131 had been offered for sale rather than lease, a department spokeswoman said. The seven Hiqa reports published on Friday showed high levels of compliance with national standards. However, two centres had areas of noncompliance. At Park Lodge in Co Kerry, where 51 single women are living, inspectors who visited on February 18th and 19th noted that 'residents spoke positively' about the centre. However, it said 'improvements were required ... related to strengthening safeguarding practices', as well as the recruitment of a reception officer, development of supporting guidance documents for the reception officer, and the need for enhanced governance to ensure adequate oversight, accountability and monitoring. Carroll Village in Co Louth, home to 88 people in families, was inspected on March 19th and 20th. 'The inspectors were told by residents that they felt safe living in the centre. Life ... felt 'normal' [and] some residents said they 'don't feel different here'.' However, the report said: 'The overall governance and oversight systems in place were not fully effective.' It added: 'Systems to review the implementation of, and compliance with relevant standards, legislation and policies were not fully effective' and, 'the service provider had not ensured that all of the required notifications were submitted to Hiqa in line with the requirements.'
Sunday World
a day ago
- Sunday World
Councillors shocked at footage of naked man outside asylum centre
Video footage of the incident shot by bystanders from the footpath and from passing vehicles has been widely spread on social media since it happened on Saturday, June 14. District councillors in Wicklow have called for greater lines of communication with the local engagement team after a man was recently found running naked outside an asylum centre in the town. Video footage of the incident shot by bystanders from the footpath and from passing vehicles has been widely spread on social media since it happened on Saturday, June 14. The footage captures a completely nude male running along the middle of the road outside the IPAS centre at the Grand Hotel. He appears to be in a disorientated and agitated state. The Grand Hotel in Wicklow town. Photo: Michael Kelly News in 90 Seconds - June 27th Speaking during the June meeting of Wicklow Municipal District, independent councillor John Snell called on his district colleagues to work collectively to help alleviate concerns when these incidents happen. He stressed the need for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide information about what happened to the individual in question and asked newly elected cathaoirleach Graham Richmond to write to the relevant Minister seeking clarity on the matter. He also raised concern about how the footage appeared online before elected representatives were informed about what happened and suggested a better strategy is needed to monitor certain comments and activities online. In agreement councillor Paul O'Brien issued a word of caution about how the issue is dealt with and cited the difficulty in trying to manage social media accounts and open forums. Councillor Gail Dunne added it was important that residents in the town feel safe and that such incidents don't become a common reoccurrence. The male in question has since been arrested for public order offences and was brought to Wicklow Garda Station, where he was held in custody. He was charged with several offences, which are due before the courts. He is currently receiving care at Newcastle Hospital after being sectioned under the mental health act. Funded by the Local Democracy Scheme
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Judgement deferred on future of Athlone IPAS centre
A High Court judge has deferred giving her judgement on the future of an IPAS centre in Athlone, which was designed to house up to 1,000 asylum seekers. The case will return to court in a month when the minister must show draft legislation promised to address an error made by the State in the planning process. The judge also said the number of people being accommodated at the centre should be "diminished substantially" by the 21 July when the matter returns to the court. Last December, Westmeath councillor Paul Hogan, and others, successfully claimed the minister failed to adequately "screen" the project for potential environmental impacts and that the minister lacked the expertise to carry out such assessments in an expedited manner. The State conceded the legal challenge brought by five local councillors against the expedited plan. Lawyers for the State asked the court to put a stay on the order quashing the use of a statutory instrument used to speed up the establishment of the controversial refugee facility at Lissywollen in Co Westmeath. The State argued there is a "serious risk to the dignity and safety" of asylum seekers, if the Government was not allowed to use special powers to fast track refugee accommodation. Aoife Carroll SC, for the State, said EU law requirements and legislative procedures were complied with, but not entered into record, amounting to an "error" but that the situation was considered to be an "emergency". 'Innocent parties' A judgement on the granting of a stay was due today by Ms Justice Emily Farrell. Ms Justice Farrell said there has been an absence of evidence that there is a risk of damage to the environment with no acceptance of that by the minister and councillor Hogan did not seek to establish that. Ms Farrell said there are serious consequences for those staying in the accommodation centre, who are the "innocent parties and many may be vulnerable" and faced homelessness and rough sleeping. She said the minister with responsibility was looking for a stay until November when the proposed legislation is expected to be enhanced. She added that she would defer making any orders until after the upcoming Oireachtas summer recess and adjourned the case until the 21 July. On that date she wants to see the draft legislation. Ms Justice Farrell also said the minister must "continue to attempt to provide alternative accommodation" and wants to see the steps being taken by the minister to find accommodation. She said the numbers on site should have diminished substantially" by then. On Monday, the court heard there are 137 people staying at the centre. Ms Justice Farrell said no new offers of accommodation can be given and no new work should be carried out at the site - apart from essential maintenance. Protests have been held in Athlone over the plan to further develop army tent accommodation for the possible 1,000 asylum seekers, in up to 150 tents, on a site to the rear of an existing direct provision centre. Along with councillor Hogan, four other Athlone-based representatives were part of the legal challenge, including newly re-elected Independent TD Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, Fianna Fáil councillors Frankie Keena and Aengus O'Rourke, and Fine Gael councillor John Dolan.
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Justice committee ends after heated exchange during minister's questioning
The Oireachtas Justice Committee ended abruptly after the chairman and vice-chair engaged in heated exchanges during questioning of Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan. Committee chairman, Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy was questioning the minister on the cost of international protection centres used to accommodate asylum seekers when vice chairwoman, Fine Gael TD Paula Butterly interrupted him. The Louth deputy said the chair was not sticking to the purpose of the meeting — which was on department of justice estimates. Mr Carthy responded by saying he was the chairman, to which she replied she was the vice chairwoman. He asked her to be 'quiet' and as the exchanges intensified, she told him to 'do your job as chair properly'. She said members asked specific questions relating to the estimates and claimed Mr Carthy was going away from that to other questions. She added that the minister had indicated he would come back in September or October to talk about International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres. Mr Carthy, representing Cavan/Monaghan, said his questions did relate to the estimates and claimed that there was 'clearly an agenda to undermine' him as chairman and that he would not tolerate it. He asked committee officials to silence Ms Butterly's microphone and pointed out that he had allowed every other member to speak for a long time and did not interrupt them and that his questioning was taking up less time. Mr Carthy then ended the meeting. Both he and Ms Butterly got off their seats and met each other half way and continued their exchanges as the live feed was cut. Before the vice-chair intervened, Mr Carthy told Mr O'Callaghan that there were 'huge concerns' regarding IPAS, and said the lack of information about them fuelled local rumours and fears. He told the minister that the contracting of private operators was happening 'in secret and in the dark' and questioned Mr O'Callaghan why they were being paid so much. Mr O'Callaghan said he was trying to get away from using private contractors and said that was why he purchased City West hotel in Dublin and that state-owned properties were the answer. He said he had instructed his officials to get the 'best value for money' in contracts with private operators. Earlier in the hearing, Labour TD for Tipperary Alan Kelly also questioned the minister about IPAS centres, including the use of the remaining hotel in local areas. On other issues, Cork North Central TD Padraig O'Sullivan said that in a reply to a parliamentary question he was told that the number of detections of drivers caught with a mobile phone have soared, from around 18,000 in 2022, to 19,000 in 2023, before jumping to around 22,000 in 2024. The Fianna Fáil deputy said that there has been 7,000 detections by March 2025 and said that if that number continued the country was 'looking at the high 20,000s' by year's end. Mr O'Sullivan said drivers were not only on their phones but looking at their iPads or operating various apps on elaborate car screens and were partially responsible for rising accidents and deaths. Minister O'Callaghan said driving while looking at devices was 'highly dangerous' and said 'deaths are caused by it'. He said the government and road authorities have to be 'relentless' in combatting this and cited improved garda detections and improved road conditions. He said drivers need to realise that there is a good likelihood they will be caught and will face consequences. On other topics, Minister O'Callaghan said: The dispute over garda subsistence and travel allowance had been 'going on too long' but that the agreement of Revenue was needed; He said reverting the pension scheme for gardaí who joined after 2013 back to the previous scheme would 'probably make the job more attractive', but said this would cost a 'very significant amount of money' as it would have to apply to all the public sector; Gardaí suspended from duty were 'entitled' to have investigations completed as quickly as possible.
Sunday World
5 days ago
- Sunday World
Gavin Duffy denies claim that he owns IPAS centre in Meath
In a video posted to X, Mr Duffy described the video as making 'totally erroneous, false and untrue statements'. Gavin Duffy, the former Dragon's Den star, has posted a video in response to the claim that he owns an International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centre in Meath. The 65-year-old has so far been unsuccessful in his petitioning of Facebook to remove a video which shows a man approach the centre, read a site notice posted at the entrance and approach a staff member all while claiming Duffy owns the centre. The site notice lists the Whearty Brothers as planning applicants. In a video posted to X, Mr Duffy described the video as making 'totally erroneous, false and untrue statements'. "I'm just back from a family holiday and towards the end of it kind and concerned neighbours and friends were contacting me about a post on Facebook,' he said. 'The type of public life I've been lucky enough to live, you do grow a thick skin. I am not frightened by false accusations of cowards who hide behind cameras and keyboards. But I also know if I don't get this taken down it festers. "So I need your help if you know the person who made and posted the original video, please advise them to delete it immediately.' Duffy has previously been the victim of false claims online. In 2020, an apparent click-bait scam announced his death across social media. Gavin Duffy News in 90 Seconds - Monday June 23 When clicked on, the links took users to a Bitcoin business, alleging that entrepreneur Mr Duffy had made money from it. This reportedly led to a number of people losing hundreds of euros. In 2021, a legal dispute between the Louth man and Facebook was resolved after he requested it desist from taking revenue from this advertising. In a joint statement after the resolution, Duffy and Facebook Ireland said they had 'resolved an issue regarding ads containing misleading and inaccurate statements about Mr Duffy, which were published on Facebook by malicious third parties'. In a video message at the time, Duffy said both parties had agreed to work together to address any further misleading and inaccurate advertisements relating to him, in the event they should reappear on the social media platform.
