Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 21 Feb 2001

Vol. 531 No. 1

Written Answers. - Asylum Seekers' Accommodation.

Bernard Allen

Question:

80 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Finance the cost of renovating the Haversham Hotel on Rochestown Road, Cork, for housing asylum seekers and refugees; and the number of asylum seekers and refugees currently in the hotel. [5043/01]

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Mr. Cullen)

The Office of Public Works acts as agent for the Directorate for Asylum Support Services of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in sourcing suitable accommodation for asylum seekers. Decisions relating to such proposals are a matter for the directorate in the final instance.

As part of a nationwide search for asylum seeker accommodation, negotiation, on behalf of the directorate, took place through last year with the proprietors of Haversham House in Rochestown, Cork. In light of the developing accommodation requirements of the directorate, negotiations were discontinued subsequently in relation to the property. Accordingly, no asylum seekers were accommodated at this location.

Some £42,000 was expended on the property in respect of preparatory works. This outlay has been recouped in full to the State. As my Office was engaged in preparatory works on the property and it was the intention to utilise the property for the accommodation of asylum seekers, it was deemed necessary to provide security for the premises and this amounted tocirca £58,000.