Direct Provision Centre will remain open until 2021

Direct Provision Centre will remain open until 2021

By Maurice Garvey 

THE Clondalkin Towers Hotel Direct Provision centre will remain open until 2021 at least, following a tender process.

The centre, which houses approximately 225 people, was initially due to close in December, but a six month extension was announced at the time by Minister of State David Staunton.

Towers Hotel 1 LIZ

The Towers Hotel Direct Provision Centre 

Private company Fazyard Ltd was paid €27.5 million from the State over an 11-year period for operating the centre in Clondalkin.

Fazyard bid for the centre again following a tendering process sought by the Department for Justice seeking alternative locations for DP centres within a 40km radius of Newbridge.

On Tuesday, the Dept Justice confirmed to TD Eoin Ó Broin that four bids were submitted for centres within the 40km Newbridge radius, including the Towers Hotel.

Contracts are for an initial two year period, with two potential extensions of one year.

The contracts will commence on completion of mobilisation works – with conditions that residents will be able to cook their own meals and have access to designated living areas outside of their bedrooms.

Fazyard were also successful in securing the contract for a DP centre at the Montague Hotel in Laois, with capacity for 202 people.

The two other proposed centres are in Kildare (Hazel Hotel in Monasterevin and the Eyre Powell in Newbridge).

Deputy Ó Broin said there was a “strong campaign led by the residents and supported by the local community” to keep the centre open.

“Ultimately however, the uncertainty surrounding the tendering process highlights why Direct Provision is not the right way to provide those seeking asylum with accommodation.”

He believes the Government should work with NGO’s and housing bodies to fund a more humane accommodation system with “own door accommodation”.

Independent Councillor Francis Timmons said the news will be a relief to residents “many of whom attend local Clondalkin schools and are involved in the local community.”

Fazyard plan to increase the Clondalkin centre’s capacity from 225 to 250 people.

The government has paid tens of millions to private companies running DP centres around Ireland.

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