No Direct Provision centre plans for asylum seekers in Bundoran

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) has confirmed that it has not been approached about facilitating any Direct Provision Centre or accommodation centre in Bundoran for international asylum seekers/protection applicants.

But they did say that in the current climate of protest, it is best practice not to circulate lists of locations where International Protection applicants and beneficiaries of Temporary Protection are in residence.

And local Cllr Michael McMahon said that it was important that when it came to such sensitive matters, that facts should always take precedence over “rumour and innuendo”.

In a statement to the paper, a Department spokesperson said:

“In relation to offers of accommodation locations in Bundoran, the Department can confirm that there are currently no properties in Bundoran which have been formally offered to us for the consideration of IPAS accommodation centres.”

The International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) under the mantle of the DCEDIY is the State Agency responsible for the provision of accommodation and related services to people in the International Protection (‘asylum’) process.

The Department further stated that no properties in the resort had been either examined or considered for such purposes.

They added: “The Department has not examined nor considered property in this location for use.

“A detailed assessment must take place before any property can be deemed suitable as accommodation for international protection applicants.”

They had also been asked about any plans, if any, for other parts of the county.

The Department replied: “In seeking to address immediate accommodation needs, safety and security are paramount considerations.

“The Department releases generic information that cannot be used to locate or identify specific persons or groups.

“In the current climate of protest it is best practice not to circulate lists of locations where International Protection applicants and Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection are residing.”

They added that the number of people seeking international protection in Ireland are a matter for the Department of Justice.

At present, there are 905 International Protection applicants accommodated in Donegal as of February 26, 2023.

Bundoran currently accommodates hundreds of Ukrainian refugees in premises and hotels throughout the town, as a result of the ongoing invasion of that country by Russia.

Bundoran based Cllr Michael McMahon (SF) told the paper:

“The Department has said that there are no direct provision centre inquiries from Bundoran and all this other stuff is false and was all rumour and innuendo. When we talk about such things, we need to talk about facts.

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Regarding Ukrainian refugees that have fled the country because of the Russian invasion he added:

“I think that Bundoran has played their part very well in this. I think that it’s also important that we remain acutely aware of our home grown tourism market, employment for the summer and that all places are open - coffee shops, bars, restaurants, hotels, because we depend on the tourist trade. We are marketing very hard to make Bundoran one of the top tourist destinations and I think that we are succeeding in that.”