New asylum seeker accommodation planned for Cork city hotel

New accommodation for asylum seekers is being planned in the heart of Cork city, according to documents seen by The Echo.

The International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) has said that it intends to begin the use of accommodation at 55 MacCurtain St to provide temporary shelter to people applying for international protection.

Some 104 beds in 73 rooms will be provided for people seeking refuge in Ireland who are international protection applicants.

In a briefing note provided to local TDs and councillors by the community engagement team at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth, it was confirmed that the accommodation will be for single, female international protection applicants. 

The department said that, while it is not possible to say with certainty what the length of stay will be for each person, a one-year contract has been signed with the provider.

It confirmed that the property is a budget hotel which consists of 73 en-suite bedrooms over seven floors, including four rooms with universal access. Most rooms (40+) are single rooms, and the remaining are twin and triple.

There will be a full board service with three meals per day provided on this site, and residents will have access to a central canteen with tea/coffee and snacks available 24/7.

Each resident will have toiletries replenished weekly and other essentials, such as toilet paper, replenished as needed.

The facility will have high-speed fibre Wi-Fi and fire alarms, fire-fighting equipment, and security cameras fitted throughout the common walking areas.

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

The property is owned by MacCurtain St Hoteliers Ltd, which will operate the site with 17 staff on-site. There will be a manager and/or security staff on-site at all times and all staff are Garda-vetted.

The owner management company has previous experience in the provision of accommodation centres for international protection accommodation services (IPAS), and directors have many decades of experience in hospitality management and the accommodation sector with a strong administration and HR team.

In addition, the centre management team in IPAS have developed and rolled out, as a pilot initially, a training programme for all centre managers to take part in and this will be offered to the provider.

The department also said that IPAS carry out resident clinics at all new and existing accommodation locations, and work with a number of NGOs who provide support to residents in the form of clinics.

In addition, there is a department-funded confidential NGO-run helpline to assist with any queries.

A communication sent to political representatives in Cork stated: “All relevant State support services in your area have been informed of the accommodation centre, and they are preparing what additional supports will be needed to assist these people settle in to the local community. This includes the Departments of Health, Education, Justice, Transport, HSE, An Garda Síochána, the Local Government Management Agency, the local integration teams, and local development office in your area.

“Ireland is legally required under EU law to provide accommodation for people seeking international protection here.”

MacCurtain St Hoteliers Ltd has been contacted for comment.