'The notification circulated on Tuesday morning was the first communication I'd received in relation to this centre'

As Navan prepares to accommodate 15 family groups of International Protection Applicants, the need to encourage a high standard of integration in the local community has been highlighted by Cllr Linda Nelson Murray.

“Personally, I cannot imagine what it must be like to pack up your life and family, forced to leave home from and move to a strange country. I’m guessing their journey hasn’t been easy. I haven’t seen the property inside, but I hope the facilities are appropriate for the needs of these families,” she said.

“As I walked through Navan today, I could see shop windows advertising for staff, and I know many manufacturing facilities are also looking for workers so I welcome that these people can work after six months, that they can avail of courses to develop skills for employment. We should encourage a high standard of integration so the international protection applicants can work locally and help contribute back to our town. These people cannot avail of social housing or HAP so I welcome that this type of accommodation can be realised for them even if it is only temporary.”

Meanwhile, Cllr Alan Lawes said it is important that we treat all vulnerable groups equally and with support.

“We should be treating all vulnerable groups equally and I will be supporting these new residents in our town, like I support other vulnerable residents including the homeless,” he said.

Cllr Lawes expressed concern about people labelling the newcomers as unvetted. “We have two emergency homeless accommodation sites in Navan. There was never consultation before they were provided. People who come and stay in our local hotels, they are unvetted. Why is there a difference? Is it because of the colour of their skin?” he asked.

“We have a major problem with homelessness, but that is not the fault of the immigrant or asylum seeker. It is the fault of the state. Inaction by the state and the council drives this divide, we should be treating all vulnerable group properly, but that is not what the State is doing,” he said.

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

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 Navan area,” he asked.

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

“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.

“We don't have enough GPs 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 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.”

Mr McDermott has been contacted for comment.