Department of Justice and Equality announces ending of emergency accommodation in Rosslare Harbour and opening of independent living facilities

The Department of Justice and Equality has announced that it is ending the provision of emergency accommodation provision in Rosslare Harbour and will instead provide applicants for international protection (also known as ‘asylum seekers’) with dedicated independent living facilities at the former Rosslare Port Lodge Hotel in Rosslare Harbour, Co Wexford.

The new premises was offered to the department via an Expressions of Interest competition advertised nationally by the department last year.

In line with the new standards for Direct Provision being rolled out across the State, this Centre will provide ‘independent living’ facilities to residents where they will have their own cooking facilities and an onsite food hall where they can get their groceries via a cashless system.

Asylum seekers who have been living in Hotel Rosslare on a temporary basis will be transferred to the new dedicated accommodation centre in the coming weeks. The remaining residents will move in on a phased basis and the total capacity of the centre when full is around 100 people.

The department is endeavouring to provide the local community with as much information as possible. A meeting has been arranged between department officials and local representatives from the Rosslare municipal district tomorrow (Tuesday) to discuss what supports will be in place to facilitate the new accommodation centre and its residents. In line with successful models around the country, a ‘Friends of the Centre’ group will be established.

The centre will be managed by Codelix Ltd. In addition to the independent living arrangements, the centre contains a dining area, recreational spaces and an onsite laundry facility. Applicants may access a range of State services and supports including healthcare, education, childcare and so on, on the same basis as everyone else. In addition to these supports and facilities residents receive a weekly cash allowance (€38.80 for adults and €29.80 for children).

ENDS

Direct provision refers to a range of State services, including the provision of accommodation, which is offered to persons who have applied for international protection and are awaiting a decision on their case.

Processing times for applicants for International Protection have reduced significantly in recent years. Under the single application procedure, which was introduced in the International Protection Act 2015, a person has all aspects of their claim (refugee status, subsidiary protection status and permission to remain) examined and determined in one process rather than sequentially as before. The aim of the single procedure is to help to reduce waiting times significantly and to ensure that we are identifying at the earliest stage possible those who need our protection and those who can safely return to their home country.

Further information, including an FAQ section on Direct Provision accommodation centres, can be found at the following link www.accommodationcentres.ie.