A contract was signed between the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) and MLC Hotels (operating as the Merriman Hotel) to provide accommodation for 98 IPAS applicants for two years. The contract was signed in early March (without consultation with anyone outside the Department) and is now in force.
The DCEDIY Community Engagement Team have confirmed that there was no evaluation undertaken on the ability of local services (e.g. schools, medical, etc.) to provide additional services for the IPAS applicants in the village.
The Community Council have again written to the Taoiseach asking for an explanation as to why Government policy has been breached in contracting the sole hotel in the village. It was also pointed out that the given reason ‘it was not an operating hotel’ is erroneous and disingenuous. We await a reply.
The Community Council have written to our seven Oireachtas members (4 TDs and 3 Senators) asking them to take a more collaborative approach in standing together for the residents of Kinvara. Minister Sean Canney has agreed to convene a meeting of the group when the Dáil reconvenes next Tuesday.
The Community Council has asked TD’s Albert Dolan, Louis O’Hara and Senator Anne Rabbitte for the status of their undertaking at the Community Council meeting to attempt to have the contract paused.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth have indicated that there is no immediate plan to relocate the Ukrainian community from the hotel.
Local residents have commenced an application for a Judicial Review of the government’s decision to execute a contract without consultation. Petitions to accompany the application are available for signing in local shops and pubs.
The next Community Council Meeting will be held on 21st May in the Community Centre, all Kinvara residents are welcome to attend. This statement will be updated regularly to provide information to the community.
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