Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 8 Mar 2001

Vol. 532 No. 3

Written Answers. - Asylum Seekers.

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

143 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the discussions his Department has held with long-standing lessees of the caravan park at Mosney holiday camp, County Meath, with regard to relocating to another site in view of the recent decision by his Department to use the site for asylum seekers; if he will consider such a discussion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7329/01]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue):

The Directorate for Asylum Support Services, which is responsible, inter alia, for meeting the accommodation needs of asylum seekers has entered into an agreement with the proprietor of Mosney holiday centre for the provision of full board accommodation and ancillary services to asylum seekers on part of the centre. The centre together with all its facilities, including the caravan park, remain in the ownership of its proprietor.

As such, the siting of mobile homes at Mosney is a matter, in the first instance, for the proprietor. He has indicated that they were formerly accommodated there on foot of an annual licence and that the owners of the mobile homes were informed by him late last year that no new licences would be issued. The proprietor has further indicated that a number of mobile homes have already been removed and that arrangements are in train for the removal of a number of others.