Tuam hotel to home 100 asylum seekers
Meetings with public representatives sought
JUST over 100 asylum seekers (International Protection Applicants IAPs) are to be accommodated in a Tuam hotel over the next year.
The Department of Integration has confirmed that a contract for the service has been signed with the owners of the Corralea Court Hotel in the Square.
The hotel has been used for over a year as an accommodation centre for Ukrainians seeking Temporary Protection.
These families and individuals left the hotel on Monday morning and were transported by bus to other locations around the county. Four individuals moved to the Parish Centre on Dublin Road where 50 Ukrainian people have been living since last April.
The Department says that the Tuam hotel accommodation will be for families of international protection applicants (IAPs). It’s not known when the people will arrive, but this will be managed by the Department.
All Tuam Municipal District Councillors and Galway East TDs were informed of the arrangement on Wednesday evening and were issued with a briefing document by the Department.
This document, seen by The Tuam Herald, states that 103 beds will be provided for people seeking refuge in Ireland who are International Protection Applicants in the town centre hotel across 28 bedrooms. Residents will be provided with three meals a day on a full-board basis.
The Corralea Court Hotel is owned by Raeton Ltd who will have a manager and/or security staff on site at all times.
The Department has stated in its briefing to public representatives that relevant support services such as the HSE, Department of Education, local integration team and the gardai have been informed of the situation and “are preparing what additional supports will be needed to assist these people settle into the local community”.
A meeting with local public representatives and community representatives and members of the Community Engagement Team is due to be held.
Speaking to The Tuam Herald, Independent Galway East TD Sean Canney said he has sought a face-to-face meeting with representatives of the Department of Integration to go through a number of queries he has regarding the matter.
He said he was disappointed that public representatives were informed at this late stage and not earlier.
“There are questions that need to be answered, in particular what has happened to the Ukrainian people who have been living in the town for the past 18 months and where have they gone,” Deputy Canney remarked.