No offer of accommodation made for IPAS centres in Laois village says Department.
The packed public meeting that had previously heard that no offer of accommodation for any property in Durrow to accommodate people seeking international protection has been made.
AHEAD of a public information meeting to be held tonight Monday 11 August on plans by a local property owner to locate two IPAS centres in Durrow, the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has confirmed, what was already stated at a previous public meeting in the village, that “no offer of accommodation for any property in Durrow to accommodate people seeking international protection.”
The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration stated it would, “like to confirm that there is no offer of accommodation for any property in Durrow, Co Laois to accommodate people seeking international protection and it is not considering any property in the village for such purposes.”
At the previous public meeting both Deputy Sean Fleming and cllr James Kelly stated that no offers had been made for IPAS centres in the village.
Deputy Fleming told the meeting: “No contract has been signed by IPAS in relation to these two premises. More importantly, no application has been made to IPAS for the premises. As of now neither premises meet the planning requirements for IPAS to even look at. It they don’t get planning approval, they can’t even go to IPAS.”
While cllr Kelly said: “There is no contact offered or awarded yet (from IPAS) to (properties owner) Marc Lennon.” Tonight’s meeting is taking place at 8pm in the Castle Arms Hotel in Durrow to discuss plans that have already been lodged with Laois County Council to locate two IPAS centres in the village.
Those attending tonight's meeting will be provided with an updated progress report on steps that have been taken by the committee and the community in their opposition to the two centres that are planned for along Mary Street.
Local politicians will also be in attendance to provide an update on their efforts in support of the community’s objections to the IPAS centres.
Following the meeting, there will be several tables available where information packs containing printed submission forms, objecting to the plans for the IPAS centres, for you to fill out, correct planning numbers to use, step-by-step guide to filling out submissions, in-formation on the payment process, checklist to ensure your sub-mission is correct and sample submissions to guide you.
There is also a guide to submitting an observation through the e-portal available to view at www.durrow.ie/ipas.
The deadline for submissions, objections or observations to the plans to locate two IPAS centres in Durrow is Wednesday 13 August at 4pm.
