Greg Daly
Clondalkin Towers West Dublin parishes have described as “shocking” the decision to close the capital’s largest direct provision centre, which could leave as many as 80 people homeless, and have urged the Government to reverse the decision.
The 225 residents of Clondalkin Towers were told this month that the centre’s management company Fazyard Ltd., is pulling out on December 3 following a breakdown in discussions with the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA). It is understood that 145 of the residents will be distributed among other direct provision centres, while 80 with refugee status will need to find private accommodation.
“Eighty people in families will be left homeless and told “go and find a landlord that will take you in’,” Frank Brown, a Clondalkin parish pastoral worker, told The Irish Catholic.
Contract
Writing to David Stanton TD, the Minister of State for Equality, Immigration and Integration, Fr Damian Farnon, Moderator of the Combined Catholic Parishes of Clondalkin, urged that a contract between the hotel and the RIA “must be renewed without delay”.
He described the residents as “very frightened and highly concerned about their immediate future and rightly so”, noting that many of those at the centre are children attending local schools, while others are in training or involved in various groups in the community.
“They have built up close and fruitful relationships over their time here and these relationships need to be taken into consideration also,” he said, detailing how residents of the centre are in groups as diverse as Clondalkin Tidy Towns, women’s groups, and GAA clubs.
“The families would be known and active throughout the Combined Catholic Parishes of Clondalkin and also within their own Churches. The 80 who have their papers reside at the centre only because there is nowhere for them to get a home, there is no alternative available,” he said, continuing: “This is shocking news and must not be allowed to happen.”
Mr Brown said local schools are “fuming” about the decision, with community groups shocked at the lack of consultation.
“The initial thing is shellshock,” he said. “That none of these groups have been brought into the conversation on this. There’s anger and confusion but also a fear to move because no one’s giving the full information on this.”