Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

A pattern is forming throughout the country. We spent two and a half hours of the first part of this meeting on the issues at Owenacurra, St. Brigid's in Carrick-on-Suir and Loughrea, and here is another one that is more or less exactly the same. All the reports we are getting about these closures are almost cut-and-paste. The only difference is the front cover of the reports. Is the recommendation agreed? Agreed.

Petition No. P00011/23, concerning undocumented migrants housed without consultation, is from Ms Catherine Sheehan. She stated:

Renovation work commenced on unused building on Gerald Griffin Street, Cork in early March 2023. Two front facing windows were replaced. A week later outside of building power washed. A week after power washing took place contractors Better Built Homes commenced work inside the building. Notice was erected to the outside of the building third week of March, after work had commenced and no local consultation was sought. The notice indicates "refugees and homeless". As contact made with all concerned (even the building contractors who are rude and dismissive) all communication has been snubbed.

The petitions case manager corresponded with Cork City Council and Mr. Graham Doyle, Secretary General of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, on 27 April 2023 and received a reply on 2 May 2023 advising the case manager to contact the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The case manager wrote to the Secretary General of that Department and received a reply on 22 June 2023. The secretariat also received a reply from Cork City Council on 7 July 2023 confirming the use of the building to provide appropriate temporary accommodation for Ukrainians in a central and well-serviced location, as required by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The facility is due to open in July 2023. Mr. Geaney noted in his letters that local elected officials have been informed of the building's use and the council has advised that once the building is available for use and in advance of occupation, a walkthrough of the building will be arranged.

The committee recommends that the correspondence from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth be forwarded to the petitioner along with the correspondence from Cork City Council.