Tipperary Government TD Jackie Cahill and Cllr Michael Smith met with Minister Roderick O’Gorman in Leinster House yesterday in respect of the decision to accommodate 160 International Protection Applicants in the Racket Hall Hotel Roscrea.
Protestors remained outside the hotel overnight.
The protestors delivered toys to the Hotel yesterday for the children now living in the accommodation centre.
The Tipperary representatives wanted to raise concerns in relation to the impact that using the hotel for asylum accommodation will have on services and infrastructure in Roscrea.
Deputy Cahill says the meeting was productive and he expects additional supports for Roscrea will be provided.
The Government has given a positive response to a request that the government would financially support action to bring the currently vacant former Grants Hotel in Roscrea town centre back into operation as a community owned and operated hotel.
The hotel has been closed since 2013 and has 24 bedrooms.
Both Deputy Cahill and Cllr Smith welcome the response from Minister O’Gorman and have committed to continuing their work on this project.
The most recent official figures available show that 1,621 International Protection applicants (IPAs) are being accommodated in county Tipperary. Kerry has 7,292 IPAs, Cork has 5,907, Clare 3,763, Limerick accommodates 2,096 with Waterford having the lowest number of asylum seekers at present with 1,206.
