Privately run Accommodation centres is Ireland’s way of meeting it’s obligations with regards to the accommodation of asylum seekers. It is a system whereby migrants who enter this country are placed in special direct provision centres,such as hotels,bedsits or apartments,and receive their food,utilities and accommodation paid for by the state. Each adult receives an additional €38.80 per week, with each child receiving €29.80 per week.
Unfortunately this system has proven to be incredibly ineffective, being described as “inhuman and degrading “. Set up in 2000 ,it envisaged that protection applicants would live in these centres for no more than six months before having their applications processed, however more than 50% of these applicants have spent five years or more waiting in ‘limbo’ in overcrowded accommodation not fit for purpose.
An increase in the number of applicants seeking protection over the years has forced the Government to rely heavily on private operators. These private lucrative contracts are costing approximately 44% more per person per day than State owned centres, meaning private accommodation operators are making millions in profit from the plight of asylum seekers.
In recent months there have been rumours of this type of privately operated accommodation being developed in Ballybay.As a small town Ballybay does not have the capability or facilities to cope with this type of development. There are already waiting lists for crèches,schools and our Medical Centre have not the capacity to register new patients.
It is intended to start a petition, available to sign in shops in Ballybay, to allow people to exhibit that there is no desire to have this type of profit making facility in Ballybay.
Your signature would be greatly appreciated.

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