The group protesting the creation of an accommodation centre for asylum seekers in Dundrum House Hotel Complex say the Department responsible for such centres should be aware that there is an ongoing legal dispute over the beneficial ownership of Dundrum House Hotel.
The group have shared information with the Community Engagement team and with Ministers Roderic O’Gorman and Helen McEntee, the Taoiseach Simon Harris and some Tipperary TDs and councillors amongst others.
The group are opposed to the creation of an IPAS centre in Dundrum House complex and want the facility to be a venue for tourism and social events.
The protesters say they have received information that approximately 100 people seeking asylum may be transferred to the location next week – close to 70 asylum seekers have been in Dundrum since August along with some refugees from Ukraine.
The information shared with the Department says that the original investors who provided funds to purchase the property are about to commence legal action in the High Court to recover their investment and that Steelworks Investments Ltd., the holding company that owns Dundrum House, has not filed annual returns with the Companies Office for five years, in breach of Company Law.
Building contractors are onsite at present upgrading the property however a kitchen that was promised to the first asylum seekers arriving last August has not yet been completed.
The protesters are calling on the Department of Integration to suspend any further IPAS payments until all legal matters concerning the ownership of the property are resolved.
The protestors are maintaining a 24/7 protest at the gates and reject that this is having a negative impact on commercial operations at the Gym, Golf Club and Restaurant at the venue.
