Agreement is reached to keep Tower Hotel opened
By Maurice Garvey
AN AGREEMENT has been reached to keep the Direct Provision (DP) Towers Hotel in Clondalkin, open until next Summer.
Two weeks ago, it was announced the centre was due to close on December 3 – leaving 225 residents in the centre facing an uncertain future.
Direct Provision (DP) Towers Hotel in Clondalkin
Between 60-80 people at the Towers have refugee status, but remain living there because they cannot find alternative accommodation.
Fianna Fáil TD John Curran welcomed the news after receiving confirmation from Minister of State at the Department of Justice David Staunton.
Deputy Curran said: “The closure of this centre at this time of year would have had a huge impact on the young children and students attending our local schools in Clondalkin.
“These children are in the middle of the school year and with Christmas just around the corner families and friends could have been dispersed all around the country causing undue stress and anxiety for the residents in this centre.”
The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) has sought expression of interest from service providers around the country for the provision of accommodation in Dublin and around the country.
Two centres in Dublin have already closed this year, and only seven DP centres in the country are owned by the State, the rest by the private sector.
“This Government needs to better reflect the compassion of Irish people by drastically improving the direct provision system and the conditions they live in,” said Deputy Curran.
