Locals in a village in Co Tipperary have criticised a pledge from Government to improve engagement with the community over accommodation for International Protection Applicants (IPAs) following seven weeks of protests.
In late May, an around-the clock demonstration began outside the Dundrum House Hotel in Dundrum following reports that the facility, which had been accommodating Ukrainian refugees, would also begin to accommodate IPAs.
The 18th century country estate, situated around 14km from both Cashel and Tipperary Town, continues to trade as a golf resort and leisure facility.
However, the hotel building was closed to guests following a ballroom fire in 2015.
Locals welcomed 277 Ukrainian refugees to Dundrum House in 2022, with many now employed in the area and their children attending nearby schools.
However, a Government briefing note sent to local political representatives on 29 May said that Dundrum House was now a "hybrid property", meaning it would accommodate IPAs as well as the Ukrainian refugees under the Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection Programme.
A public meeting attended by up to 300 people from the surrounding areas followed, with a protest outside the gates of the property starting on 29 May.
Local residents have continued to maintain a 24/7 presence at the gates seven weeks later with placards stating "protect out village", "we don't need or want IPAs", and "when will the Government listen to the Irish people?"
Fiona Kennedy told RTÉ’s Drivetime that residents are upset that previously-announced plans to reopen and upgrade the hotel have not happened as "promised", referencing a planning application made public by the property’s owners in 2018.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
She said that while they welcomed Ukrainian refugees, they understood that "this would be a temporary arrangement", not a permanent or "rolling contract situation".
She cited concerns over local school and health facilities and the loss of Dundrum’s potential as a "tourist destination".
Questioned as to why locals could welcome 277 Ukrainian Refugees and not IPAs, Ms Kennedy said their main aim is to "get our hotel back".
She added that "everybody believes the numbers will be twice that" based on extra capacity at the site, though Department of Integration officials have denied this.
Asked if the protest group would block the arrival of IPAs, she said their demonstration would "remain peaceful and dignified".
While she expressed concern about violent clashes and arrests over similar issues in Coolock, north Dublin, this week, Ms Kennedy said such scenes are happening "because the Government are not listening to the people they’re working for".
Minister of State for Integration Joe O’Brien this week announced a new project to recruit people to engage and work with communities where IPA centres are located.
Despite this, Ms Kennedy said: "Government promises ring very shallow with us, they promised a new community hotel in Roscrea as well and there isn’t a hope in hell of that happening," referring to a similar protest outside Rackett Hall earlier this year.
Other protesters like Paddy Tuohy have insisted the demonstration in Dundrum was peaceful, with no "threat of violence".
He added that there are no plans to "block people’s freedom of movement", but said locals in the "the tiniest little village" of Dundrum, with a population of around 220, are worried about the impact of large numbers of IPAs moving in.
Pauline Burke, who moved from to the village from Dublin 21 years ago, described the area as a most "welcoming community".
However, she said she had been "crying in fear" because locals were "under the impression that up to 550 IPAs could be coming" despite Government assurances to the contrary.
Seven weeks into the protest she appealed to the minister for integration to "please come and talk to us".
In a statement from the Department of Integration, a spokesperson said that as they work to urgently find accommodation for people seeking international protection and as people from Ukraine move to other locations, the department is arranging to use "some vacancies" at Dundrum House for this purpose.
The spokesperson said the department may be able to use Dundrum House "as a dedicated location for IPAs in future", but this is not currently agreed.
A "process is underway and local representatives and media will be informed of any changes", but not while "appraisal and contractual discussions are ongoing".
The statement added that "there is no intention to increase capacity (of 277 people) or overall numbers at this site regardless of the process under which they are accommodated in Ireland".
The owner of Dundrum House Hotel told Drivetime he was unavailable for comment.
