Dundrum House IPAS conversion
Deputy McGrath objected to Dundrum House Hotel being changed from Ukrainian accommodation to an IPAS centre without sufficient consultation or infrastructure and asked for a meeting. Minister O'Gorman said the change reflected shifting accommodation needs and that the provider had agreed to it.
Dundrum House Hotel in Tipperary is a famed hotel and business run by the late Austin Crowe and his wonderful family for decades. The Minister has taken it over and it has been a reception centre for Ukrainians who have been integrated and well accepted in the area. It is now being made into an IPAS centre without any questions about it and with inadequate infrastructure and there are economic concerns. I have a letter here from the Dundrum residents association, which I salute. There is also the matter of creating integrated settings, which is supposed to be Government policy but which it does not do. There has been absolutely no consultation with the community, public representatives or anybody else. I am glad the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, is here. This has been visited on the people of Dundrum. They are welcoming people. Dundrum House Hotel is a linchpin of our tourism product in Tipperary. A very shady business owner is running the place now, to put it mildly.
Comment on this
That is putting it mildly. The Minister is happy to do this. I ask him to meet the delegation next week from the residents in Dundrum.
Comment on this
The Deputy is right that, for two years, the hotel in question has served as accommodation for Ukrainian families. They have been supported and integrated into the community. Our need for Ukrainian accommodation is less now and our need for accommodation for international protection applicants is higher. In light of that, we made a decision, in agreement with the provider there, that this accommodation will now provide accommodation for international protection applicant families. I have no doubt Deputy McGrath will show leadership in supporting that same level of welcome that was provided to Ukrainian families to international protection applicant families.
Comment on this
We need consultation. Will the Minister meet the committee?
Comment on this
We have provided information about the change of use in this particular case. I am happy to speak to the Deputy further about this. Families from Ukraine are leaving and families from other countries and difficult parts of the world are arriving. I hope we can extend the same degree of welcome.