‘Fury’ in Tipperary as 96 asylum seekers hit with eviction notices to leave in July

Ireland may see its first rally in support of 96 asylum seekers who are being given eviction notices to leave their accommodation in Borrisokane where they have made their home, according to a Tipperary TD.

Integration Minister Roderic O'Gorman needs to listen to the community of Borrisokane following the integration of asylum seekers in the Tipperary town over the past five years, Labour Party Deputy Alan Kelly told the Dáil.

About half of the 96 residents have recently received notices to leave, with the other half expected to do so shortly.

Speaking during Topical Issues, the Nenagh based TD said the people of Borrisokane in 2019 welcomed in what turned out to be 96 asylum seekers into their community.

"They did so at a time of high tensions across a number of communities in Ireland where asylum seekers were being placed,” said Deputy Kelly. Public meetings took place and a local liaison committee was formed. The 20 families have integrated totally into the community while living in the Riverside Centre.

“Many have now got status in Ireland and are told they are being evicted in July. The local community is furious about this,” said Deputy Kelly.

Some 27 children are currently in primary school in the town, 10 are in secondary school in Borrisokane and 11 have moved on to various third level courses.

"Many of the people who have arrived are now working in local jobs and roles. The families are totally involved in the community. Sobello is a coach with the underage soccer team and he also set up the community garden in the local town park where local people can grow their own vegetables.

“Guillema is a volunteer with the Alone charity while Ase was just recently part of the U13 Borrisokane GAA team that won the North Tipperary championship. The recent African Day in the town was a great success.

“Many in the community who had concerns in 2019 are now the very people who are fighting to keep the new residents in the community.

“The issue is that while the families qualify for HAP there is no accommodation locally available to rent and they are left in a very vulnerable situation. They don't want to move and their children are so upset about the thought of moving and starting afresh.

“Furthermore, it turns out that the Department of Justice in 2019 wrote to the liaison committee saying it would ‘be a very positive and long-term outcome of the community's welcome and support’ if the residents got status in Ireland and qualified for HAP to enable them to continue residing in the Riverside Centre.

“This is a unique situation and Minister O’Gorman needs to honour the commitments made in 2019 to the community of Borrisokane who have always done the right thing,

“He needs to show that a compromise can be found whereby he works with the owners of this property which they have contracts with to allow the residents use HAP to stay in the local community.

“What use is the Government's word and IPAS's word if when a community positively engages with them like Borrisokane did and welcomes asylum seekers, that they then turn around and totally let them down,” said Deputy Kelly.

“What are we saying to the people of Ireland and other communities if the word of the Department isn’t kept based on this agreement that was made in November 2019, following a contract being signed with Double Properties in September 2019?”

Joe O’Brien TD, Minister of State with Responsibility for Community Development and Charities, and for Integration, responded for the Government. The Riverside accommodation centre in Borrisokane is a contracted international protection centre.

Single adults and couples who have status for nine months or more, and families who have status for two years or more, are currently being offered a transfer to alternative IPAS accommodation.

“Those families who in July 2024 will have reached two years of status have been advised to transfer in Borrisokane to alternative accommodation in July.”

Each family was notified in writing in February and March 2024, and in recent months officials have held a number of in-person meetings with those impacted, and advised that alternative accommodation was under consideration.

Deputy O’Brien said he understood that meetings were held in 2023 and in March this year, with the IPAS dedicated transition team alerting the residents to the existing supports.

Residents of the Borrisokane centre also have direct support from Integration workers, the Peter McVerry Trust in accessing housing supports.

“When the Riverside accommodation centre opened at the end of 2019, 7,683 people were accommodated in IPAS accommodation. We currently accommodate over 30,000 people, and have a significant number of people awaiting an offer of IPAS accommodation,” added Deputy O’Brien.

Deputy Kelly responded: “I don’t want to be going down to the people of Borrisokane and saying they were sold a pup in 2019. They have done everything that was asked.”

Deputy Kelly said the residents are vulnerable people, including children, and are totally integrated into the town. “The town is not going to let them down. Surely given what was agreed – because the crisis that the Department was facing in 2019 and they wanted to Borrisokane to be different – surely they can keep their word, and find some way to ensure that these families who were treated uniquely at the time in Ireland are dealt with in very fair manner.”

Deputy O’Brien said the Department will look at offering further supports.

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