Families to be housed at former Mayo hotel
A protest outside JJ Gannon's Hotel on Main Street, Ballinrobe today.
The Department of Integration has confirmed that 50 women and children will be housed at a former hotel premises in Co Mayo.
It comes following protests outside of the former JJ Gannon's Hotel on Main Street, Ballinrobe, after it was revealed that the building was to accommodate 50 international protection applicants, who were all male.
While initially ear-marked for adult males, the Department has confirmed that it will now be women and children housed.
"The Department’s contract for accommodation in Ballinrobe to provide temporary shelter to International Protection applicants in JJ Gannon’s Hotel is proceeding. It is intended that up to fifty people in need of shelter will be accommodated at the premises," a spokesperson from the Department said.
"While initially ear-marked for adult males, there is now an acute shortage of accommodation for families and children and it is now intended to place families into this property over the coming days.
"A full briefing document with details was issued to local TDs, Cllrs, and Senators on January 4th. This was done by the Department's Community Engagement Team in advance of the accommodation being used.
"Emergency centres such as this one in Ballinrobe have been opened in all parts of the country. There have been over 190 accommodation locations utilised since January 2022 across 26 counties.
"These options must be considered to prevent homelessness for people arriving seeking international protection.
"The situation in relation to accommodation for International Protection applicants remains extremely challenging, and the Department does not have enough accommodation to offer to many newly arrived IP applicants at present."
