Asylum seekers to be moved from Clare hostel
THE Department of Justice has confirmed that it is relocating asylum seekers from emergency accommodation in the west Clare town of Miltown Malbay.
Seven men living in the Central Hostel in the town have been informed of “new accommodation” and will be transferred by the end of this week, the department has said.
The move has been welcomed by non-governmental organisations, which over the past six months have been calling for its closure due to inadequate living conditions and the inability of residents to protect themselves from the Covid-19 virus.
Although there have been no reported cases of Covid-19 in the accommodation, the Miltown Malbay Welcome Group said the physical and mental health of the men living there had been at “constant risk”.
“We ask please, we are tired. We can become crazy here. Please see some way to transfer us to a better place,” a group of 13 men living in the hostel stated in a letter sent to Justice Minister Helen McEntee and Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman on July 10.
The Department of Justice said yesterday that “restrictions on transfers were necessary as a precaution during the pandemic”.
“While transfers can now take place in limited circumstances, our ability to respond to transfer requests is contingent on public health advice and subject to availability within the accommodation system,” it said.
It added that it does “not disclose the centres to which residents are transferred in order to protect their privacy”, and does not intend to continue to use the hostel in Miltown Malbay.
Last week, the department had said the Miltown Malbay premises was “clean, safe and meeting the needs of residents” in response to renewed appeals on behalf of the men.
Paying tribute to Ms McEntee for her decision, the Miltown Malbay Welcome Group said it hoped this was “just the first step” in ensuring Ireland complies with its obligations under the Reception Conditions Regulations.