Up to 70 international protection applicants to be accommodated in centre of Navan

Up to 70 people seeking international protection are to be accommodated in the centre of Navan in the coming weeks it has been revealed.

In a briefing document sent to Meath's Oireachtas members and Navan MD councillors and see by the Meath Chronicle, the International Protetcion Accommodation Service has said it intends to use Flaxmill House, Mill Lane, Flower Hill, a former self-storage facility and offices to provide initial temporary accommodation for up to 40 people.

According to the briefing document the capacity is for 40 people across 15 rooms. There is also an additional section of the property that "is due to be complete in September" which will increase the overall capacity to 70.

The accommodation, say IPAS, is for "families of international protection applicants."

A one-year contract has been signed with the employer with IPAS unable to say how long each applicant will remain in the accommodation.

According to IPAS, the property has a sufficient number of bathrooms and showers for the number of residents at the required ratios. A self-catering service will be provided on site while residents will also get a weekly Lidl gift card. Essentials such as toiletries will be replenished each week. The site will also have hi-speed WiFi.

IPAS under the the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is currently providing 31,913 people seeking International Protection with statesourced accommodation and support services.

In addition to that, since February 2022, it is also providing accommodation to 38,426 people who have fled the war in Ukraine, resulting in over 70,300 people in state-supported or pledged accommodation in Ireland, and that number continues to increase.

In the last six months there has been an average of 560 people seeking accommodation every week.

According to IPAS, the provision of accommodation, health, education, income and other supports as appropriate, to both international protection applicants and those fleeing the war in Ukraine, is "a whole-of-government emergency response."

"A range of departments, agencies, service providers, and local authorities are involved in the accommodation, resettlement, and integration process.

"Given the scale and urgency of the operation to source accommodation for new arrivals, manage and process them appropriately, and transfer and settle them into their new

homes and communities, there has been a requirement to act at pace, with developments often happening at very short notice.

"We are working to improve how new accommodation is sourced, and how these developments are communicated to local communities. Our aim is to enhance

communications and engagement and give communities more access to information and updates on what is happening in their community."

The Flaxmill House, Mill Lane property is owned by Nigel McDermott and Purple Horse Ltd who have a three-year Lease. The company managing the site is called Earlsline Ltd, which manages other premises accommodating people who are applying for international protection. It's understood the owner/facilities management company have previous experience in the provision of accommodation centres for IPAS.

According to the IPAS document there will be 24-hour security on site seven days a week and a manager and any other personnel required with staff on-site 24 hours a day and there will be a manager and/or security staff on site at all times.

There will be at least two staff member on site each day to include cleaners and a manager attending to any needs 24/7  There will be security staff present 24/7. There is also CCTV in place.

Each resident will have their own lockable bedroom and 24-hour access.

Each shower and toilet is appropriately partitioned for privacy.

On arrival IPAS applicants will be eligible to receive PPS Numbers but cannot access the labour market for the first six months that they are in Ireland. An adult resident receives an allowance of €38.80 per week.

There have been over 230 accommodation locations utilised for IPAS appliants since January 2022 across 26 counties.

Navan's public representatives have been told queries relating to the accommodation proposal at Flaxmill can be directed to the Community Engagement Team which it says "is working across Government to ensure a co-ordinated approach." Queries can be sent to ommunity@equality.gov.ie

More to follow...