COURTOWN HOTEL REJECTS CLAIMS OVER RENOVATION WORKS
THE Courtown Hotel has dismissed concerns expressed by asylum seeker activist group Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland (MASI) over recent renovation works that have been carried out at the hotel.
MASI had posted photos of the works at the hotel on various social media platforms, claiming that they posed a risk to the asylum seekers currently staying at the hotel. The group also highlighted the concerns of one mother whose child apparently suffered an asthma attack while works were being carried out.
However, management at the hotel, along with Courtown Refugee Support and the National Coordinator of Places of Sanctuary Ireland, have refuted the claims.
‘When the construction was going on, which only last two or three weeks, the areas were closed to residents and anyone, especially children, should not have been there,’ the hotel manager said.
They said they were aware that the mother in question had contacted MASI and had been unhappy at Courtown Hotel and wished to move to another centre in a different part of the country.
The Department of Justice subsequently advised management at the hotel that the resident would be more suited to a family orientated accommodation, which is the Courtown Hotel, and so should not be moved.
The hotel pointed out that the unhappy resident was a minority, as the majority of asylum seekers in Courtown have been making efforts to integrate into the community with the help of hotel staff, and have been attending sports clubs and taking English language classes locally.
Lauren Brennan of Courtown Refugee Support said that the group received no complaints locally about recent construction works at the hotel.
‘Construction work is always disruptive whether it’s in your house or anywhere you’re living. This was done as quickly and as a cleanly as possible in areas that were off limits to residents. Residents told us it was a bit of a pain but we had no real complaints,’ she said.
Tiffy Allen, who is the National Coordinator of Places of Sanctuary Ireland, is based in Gorey and has been a friend to asylum seekers and refugees locally, said that there is a homely atmosphere at the Courtown Hotel.
‘There has been a lot of working going on there but the atmosphere is wonderful. The manager is a very empathetic person who really wants to make things work. I know the asylum seekers hope they won’t be moved on quickly.
‘The direct provision system is not perfect of course, but there are people there who have got their hearts in the right place and have gotten community support. There are a lot of positives and the residents really want to contribute,’ she said.
Members of MASI travelled across Ireland visiting Direct Provision centres and emergency accommodation centres, including the Courtown Hotel, to make assessments of the living conditions for residents living in centres, whom they feel they represent.
When asked about this case, the Department of Justice and Equality issued the following statement:
‘The Department encourages those placed in accommodation to inform the Department directly of any issues which may arise. Residents are advised to make contact via the dedicated phone or email established for that purpose.’
The Department also stated that as they had no contract with the Courtown Hotel to operate as an accommodation centre under the Direct Provision of Services scheme, it could not comment on matters relating to the building works.