Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 June 2019
53. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps he is taking to facilitate the 200 plus residents at Hatch Hall direct provision centre following the announcement of its closure; the reason for the closure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26871/19]
View answerRegretfully, due to circumstances outside the control of the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department, the Hatch Hall accommodation centre will close on 15 July 2019. This was a commercial decision by the operator.
RIA is proactively engaging with residents to discuss their options in order to minimise disruption. This includes seeking to re-accommodate those still in the protection process within RIA’s accommodation portfolio and providing residents with an international protection status or a permission to remain with support from DePaul Ireland to transition from RIA accommodation and into mainstream housing.
The current occupancy of Hatch Hall, as of 9 June, is 213 persons.
38 residents have status or permission to remain and are receiving assistance from DePaul Ireland, which is contracted by my Department to find accommodation in the community.
32 residents have been offered accommodation in Co. Leitrim.
The remaining residents have all been offered accommodation at the Balseskin reception centre in Dublin.
