BREAKING: International Protection Accomodation Services ended at Laois hotel

The East End Hotel in Portarlington is no longer providing accommodation services to International Protection Accomodation Services.

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth confirmed the end of IPAS accommodation at the centre following a query in relation to the centre from the Leinster Express in relation to the operators of the centre. 

The query followed complaints in relation to a three bedroom property in Portarlington which was allegedly being used to house up to 15 asylum seekers but had not been registered for use as IPAS accommodation. 

Independent Cllr Aidan Mullins welcomed the news and said he was aware that “something was not right” about the services in Portarlington. 

“We have been querying from IPAS for weeks about the eligibility of some of the premises being used to house asylum seekers and we didn’t get satisfactory answers,” said Cllr Mullins. He said there was confirmation that one house wasn’t approved for IPAS use. 

The Department stated that: “A small number of compliance issues have arisen across IPAS’s property portfolio of over 320 centres. These issues are actively addressed with service providers as they arise and are followed up in terms of any regulatory issues, or welfare issues for residents.IPAS regularly engages with centres to ensure compliance with contracts and standards with particular focus on the wellbeing of international protection applications.”  

“In more complex cases, the outcomes of these engagements can and have included the permanent withdrawal of international protection applicants from the centre. 

The East End Hotel in Portarlington, Co. Laois is no longer providing accommodation services to IPAS,” the Department confirmed this afternoon. 

“IPAS accommodation centres are located at over 320 locations around the country and are primarily group accommodation sites, with centre management, staffing and central services provided directly to residents. We are currently accommodating over 32,000 people, of whom 9,000 are children with their families,” the Department said. 

They said all centres are subject to inspection by Department officials or contracted representatives of the Department.

“The IPAS Customer Service team conduct regular clinics at accommodation centres, which provides residents with an opportunity to speak with IPAS staff in confidence and voice any concerns they have regarding their accommodation. The IPAS Centre Management team conduct unannounced visits to accommodation centres to assess compliance with IPAS policy. Resident clinics also provide IPAS officials with an opportunity to review and examine centres and their general operation and pass any findings on for follow up through the formal inspection process,” the spokesperson added. 

IPAS said it is always available to deal with any complaints from residents and residents are encouraged to engage with IPAS if they are unhappy with any aspect of their accommodation. “Where a complaint is significant in nature or a resident is not comfortable raising a complaint with a centre manager, they may make the complaint directly, or through a representative authorised to act on their behalf, to the IPAS Customer Service Team,” the spokesperson. 

“If they wish to request IPAS accommodation they may contact the IPAS helpdesk to seek advice. The IPAS helpdesk can be contacted by email ipasinbox@equality.gov.ie.

“In the event of a resident not feeling comfortable with contacting the Department directly or the centre management, the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) operate a confidential support helpline for all residents being accommodated by IPAS. The Freephone helpline is operated by the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS). If a resident wishes, a complaint made through this service may be passed, in confidence, to IPAS for investigation and resolution. All residents have access to this independent support helpline. IPAS is working to facilitate clinics at centres, in line with public health restrictions. The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) helpline contact number is 1800 929 00 or email: info@jrs.ie”

All people seeking international protection (IP) have access to the services of the Ombudsman, should they consider that their complaint has not been managed appropriately, the Department stated.