‘It’s too many people in too small an area’ – row brewing over plans to house 280 migrants in Tipperary village of 165 people

The village of Dundrum in south Tipperary has a population of 165.

However, the Government is planning to use Dundrum House Hotel as an accommodation complex, with plans for up to 280 international protection applicants (IPAs) to be housed there.

Locals have expressed shock at the plans and the scale of the allocation, which is over 100 people more than the permanent population of the village.

A public meeting to discuss the community’s response to the move attracted more than 300 people from the village and surrounding areas.

The row follows stand-offs earlier this year with communities in Roscrea and Clonmel over large-scale refugee centres.

Those stand-offs resulted in ugly scenes and the Clonmel refugee site was the target of several arson attacks.

Dundrum locals have pleaded for “common sense” over the scale of ­local accommodation plans.

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Politicians raised concerns over the effect on local services, which they say are already stretched to the limit.

Local Independent councillor Liam Browne said he was “appalled” at the lack of communication with local residents.

Fine Gael councillor Declan Burgess said it was “deeply concerning” that the local community was being kept in the dark.

Integration Minister and new Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman confirmed that the Department of Integration planned to proceed with the accommodation in Dundrum House Hotel.

Mr Browne asked whether such large-scale accommodation centres in small communities were being driven by a desperation to get asylum-seekers out of Dublin.

“We have been saying from the start that it is too many people in too small an area,” he told Tipp FM.

“We had no local impact needs assessment, there was nothing done, no idea of services. They are talking about putting international protection applicant families into Dundrum, but where are those kids going to be minded if those people want to go work in the community?

“The doctor has already said in Dundrum that he is not going to take on any more patients, he just does not have the capacity to do it.

“The Government seems to think, ‘Look, let’s get these people out of Dublin, let’s get them down the country, put them in a rural area and let the rural area look after it afterwards’.

“But that is not a way to have any sort of migration policy or asylum-seeking refugee policy. It is turning into an absolute disaster up there.”

Meanwhile, Mr Burgess said there was a lack of consultation between government agencies and the community.

“I am so angry and annoyed that no information has arrived on this proposed IPA accommodation,” he said.

“The community of Dundrum has warmly welcomed hundreds of Ukrainian refugees to its area and has looked after them extremely well.

“The lack of clarity and communication is again deeply concerning. The minister and this department have obviously learned nothing from the Cashel issue or others across the country.

“Again, I am so disappointed and upset with the zero respect [for locals].

“This is not acceptable and I will not stand for this kind of approach.”

The Department of Integration has confirmed that Dundrum House Hotel has been identified as a centre to house IPAs.

“Ireland is currently experiencing an acute shortage of accommodation for people seeking international protection,” a department spokesperson said.

“As vacancies arise within existing properties used for those fleeing the war in Ukraine, where the provider agrees, the department is availing of these spaces. A number of such moves are being planned, including Dundrum House Hotel.”

In a previous statement, Dundrum House Hotel hit out at what it termed “speculation within the local media and various social media channels” that there was going to be an increase in accommodation numbers at the facility.

“The management at Dundrum House Hotel wish to confirm that there is currently a Ukrainian contract in place to accommodate 277 [people]. This contract has been in place since September 2022. Contrary to speculation within the local media and various social media channels, we have in no way agreed to add to or indeed enter discussions concerning an increase of the numbers as stipulated within this existing contract with IPAs,” it said.

The hotel said it was accepting women and children for places created by existing refugees leaving to return home.

“We wish to allay any fears locally of additional IPAs arriving in Dundrum at this time. We accept women and children only to replace the people who have vacated the holiday homes,” they said.