Department of Integration to extend Westmeath hotel IPAS contract

The continued use of Harry’s of Kinnegad as a site for accommodation for International Protection applicants has been described as “unsuitable” following a meeting between local representatives and members of the Community Engagement Team (CET) from the Department of Integration.

The Kinnegad venue will continue to host IPAS clients for another year, as a new contract is set to be signed.

Cllr Denis Leonard (Lab) levelled criticism at the move, saying it shows a “huge disconnect from communities and a basic lack of communication and transparency”.

Three years ago 180 people were moved in to Harry’s of Kinnegad as the refugee crisis was exacerbated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Cllr Leonard said that happened “without consultation” and “created a lot of problems”.

At that time, an agreement was reached between the local liaison group, IPAS officials and local TDs, that the newcomers should be majority Ukrainian, with some IPAS residents. Last February 30 Ukrainian nationals were moved from the centre.

The venue has had three one-year contracts to provide accommodation, and the fourth is now due for ratification. Last Thursday, Department of Integration officials met with elected representatives and community activists.

“Like the Community Liaison Team (CLT) and other local residents, I have been actively trying to prevent a new one-year contract being signed due to it being the only hotel in the town and in the region, as well as the unsuitable facilities and amenities locally to accommodate 150-plus single men.

“From healthcare to garda coverage, our services are already at capacity,” said Cllr Leonard, who is also a member of the CLT, in the wake of last week’s meeting.

The Labour elected representative said he outlined the “unsuitability” of Harry’s and spoke of the “local anger” over what was “supposed to be a temporary facility being continually renewed with little scrutiny of its viability”.

Cllr Leonard told the Westmeath Examiner that at Thursday’s meeting, he was supported in his call by TDs Robert Troy, Michael Carrigy and Sorca Clarke and Cllrs Niall Gaffney and Julie McCourt and a representative of Westmeath County Development.

The importance of having an accommodation centre in an area that is endeavouring to build up a tourism profile was stressed by Cllr Leonard: “Kinnegad has no other hotel. It doesn’t just serve the 3,000 people in Kinnegad, but serves thousands all the way from Rochfortbridge, towards Edenderry, up towards Killucan, Raharney, Delvin, The Downs. Those people would come to Kinnegad, in to Harry’s, because it’s central for this part of Westmeath.”

Cllr Leonard said the Department of Integration officials did clear up some concerns: “I did get clarification that they have no other centre in mind. Rumours were starting that the Phoenix or the Eastway could be used for refugees. I got confirmation that they’re not under consideration,” Cllr Leonard said.

Minister Robert Troy, who organised the gathering, said stakeholders found the meeting beneficial: “Originally it was flagged for the Oireachtas members representing the constituency, but I requested that local councillors, in particular Denis Leonard, who has been working hard on this issue for a long number of months, was included in the meeting.

“I think the meeting was positive. It was an opportunity for public reps to hear exactly from the community engagement team about their plans for Harry’s. The signing of a contract is imminent but what was advised was that the government is moving away from these centres that are privately owned and operated to a number of large-scale centres.

“City West has been acquired but to make that transition takes time and because of that, they said they needed to extend the contract by a further 12 months.”

Minister Troy said issues of concern were discussed: “We raised a number of points in relation to the quality of the building, ensuring that the numbers are kept to a safe level, that rooms are used to overcapacity, that there’s a safe level of people in it, that there’s the right mix of people in it, and that the operator would take greater pride in the building and the maintenance of the building.”

He said many of the residents are contributing to Irish society: “The vast majority of people in these centres are here looking for work and a lot of them are going to work on a daily basis.”

Deputy Michael Carrigy, one of the three TDs at the meeting, told the Examiner: “It is important that the views and concerns of the local community are listened to, but more importantly taken into consideration before any decisions are made with regard to the location of any centre.”

Cllr Leonard suggested anyone with concerns about the continued use of the hotel for IPAS clients should email the local TDs about the decision.

The Department of Integration has not responded to a request from the Examiner for a comment on the matter.