Guirke seeks clarification on Flaxmill House proposals

Deputy Johnny Guirke has written to Minister Roderic O'Gorman calling for community consultation on the proposal to house asylum seekers in Flaxmill house, Mill Lane Flower Hill.

Following the news yesterday that the building will be used initially to house 40 families of International Protection Applicants, Deputy Guirke has also sought clarification on a number of issues,

"Community consultation should take place in plenty of time to allow the community to ask questions. Informing the community some days before residents move into Flaxmill House is not community consultation," he said.

He asked the Minister for the anticipated timeline for the relocation of applicants to the Navan facility and if the accommodation would be designated for men/women or families.

"What additional services are planned to be implemented in the surrounding area of Navan," he asked.

"How is the community currently being engages with in this process?"

In a briefing document sent to Meath's Oireachtas members and Navan MD councillors, 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.

The document stated "the accommodation will be for families of international protection applicants" and "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."

The Mayor of Navan, Cllr Eddie Fennessy said the notification circulated on Tuesday morning was the first communication he'd received in relation to this centre and it came completely out of the blue.

"I'm advised that as a local councillor and the Mayor of Navan, I have no say in this matter at all. The department accepted an offer to use the building and only the government have the power to remove it.

"Navan's population has grown exponentially over the past 20 years and the provision of infrastructure and services has not kept pace with that growth. This really concerns me.

"We don't have enough GP's in the town to meet existing demand. School places are scarce. And housing supply in the local private rental sector is non existent. There is nowhere for the service users to go to when their five month stay in the centre has finished.

"Nigel McDermott and Purple Horse Ltd will make a very substantial profit from this business venture. They made the building available for that very purpose. They have very serious questions to answer.

"I'd like to know what consideration they gave to the impact this business venture will place on the chronically overstretched resources we have in Navan. I would also put that same question to the government department who made this decision."