TD calls for 'intervention' after Kilkenny building converted into IPAS accommodation centre

Deputy John McGuinness says that the Department of Integration have 'failed in informing the local community' that a large building in Kilkenny City has officially been converted into an accommodation centre for international protection applicants.

"The Minister has absolutely failed in this regard," he said, speaking about River View House on the Dublin Road. "There's an information vacuum there and the Minister needs to intervene immediately."

MUST READ - EXPLAINER: What's happening at Kilkenny IPAS accommodation centre?

The Kilkenny TD further described the current process for identifying buildings as possible accommodation centres as 'a recipe for disaster'.

"The local residents are being treated extremely unfairly," he continued. "Everyone is getting very angry. We have seen this in other areas of Kilkenny too, such as out in Wallslough, where residents are being left in the dark."

McGuinness told Kilkenny Live that he was only made aware last week by the Department that the River View House building would officially proceed as an IPAS accommodation centre.

The Department have confirmed that the capacity at River View House is for 28 beds over 14 rooms and that the 'accommodation will be used to accommodate couples of international protection applicants'.

The Department added that "it is not possible to say with certainty what the length of stay will be having regard to the number of IP applicants arriving in Ireland and the scarcity of alternative accommodation. A one-year contract has been signed with the provider."

Back in November of last year, Kilkenny Live broke the news that the building had been formally put forward to house asylum seekers.

A statement from the Department at the time stated that: "The Department has received an offer in for Riverview [sic] House on the Dublin Road, however all of the necessary documentation required has still not been provided in order for it to proceed."

Councillor Andrew McGuinness, speaking at the time, slammed the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) for their lack of consultation with local communities.

“The fact that such a large building is currently being converted into an accommodation centre with no information given to local residents and no consultation process in place, is a slap in the face to the local communities here in the St Johns Parish,” he said.

Before the building was being considered to house international protection applicants, planning permission to change the building's use from office to retail were refused by Kilkenny County Council.

FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE