Department confirms IPAS centre proposal decision

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has said they rejected an offer to use the site of a former Ballina secondary school as an IPAS centre.

The Department had been assessing an offer to use the former St Mary’s Secondary School as accommodation for international protection applicants.

However, Senator Mark Duffy said that this proposal had been rejected with no further new application by the owners of the former St Mary’s site.

The Western People contacted the Department for comment. In response, a spokesperson said the property had been appraised but the offer was rejected.

“An offer of international protection accommodation that was made to the Department in relation to this property was rejected following our appraisal process,” said the spokesperson.