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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 7 Mar 2002

Vol. 550 No. 2

Written Answers. - Refugee Accommodation.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

221 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement on the circumstances by which his Department did not proceed to locate refugees and asylum seekers in Havisham House, Rochestown Road, County Cork, despite having spent ?140,000 on redeveloping and securing the property. [7839/02]

I draw the Deputy's attention to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 31034/01 answered on 5 December 2001. Havisham House was intended as a short-term solution to the asylum seeker accommodation crisis. The works carried out were the minimum necessary to bring the premises to an acceptable standard. However, when a more suitable site – Cork Airport Hotel – was identified, negotiations for the finalisation of the lease were abandoned on Havisham House and the renovation costs incurred were recouped in full to the State. Asylum seekers are now located in purpose built accommodation on the Cork Airport site. The allocation of accommodation to asylum seekers is not a matter for my office.

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