Plan to expand Lissywollen direct provision centre in Athlone is confirmed

When the Athlone asylum seeker accommodation centre in Lissywollen first opened, in the year 2000, it was viewed as a temporary facility to meet a short-term need.

Now, close to a quarter of a century on, the centre has become a permanent fixture on the outskirts of the town and one which, it has been confirmed, will soon be expanded in order to cater for more residents.

Speaking in the Dáil recently, Minister Roderic O'Gorman mentioned the Athlone centre as a site where the Government is planning to "bring additional capacity" and "upgrade to (a) reception and integration centre".

He added that this was part of a "new comprehensive accommodation strategy for international protection applicants" which had been agreed by the Government in March.

He said this strategy was designed to provide "an overall bed capacity of up to 13,000" in State-owned reception and accommodation centres by 2028.

The Athlone site in Lissywollen is currently used as an accommodation centre. If it becomes a 'reception and integration centre', as signalled by the Minister, it will be used to provide shorter-term accommodation for new arrivals into the country, who would then be moved to alternative accommodation elsewhere within a designated period of time - typically four months.

In response to questions from the Westmeath Independent last week, a spokesperson for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth said an assessment of how the Lissywollen centre would be developed was ongoing.

"Aspects of the (Government) strategy are progressing including planning the advancement of accommodation on certain State-owned lands including at Lissywoolen, Athlone," said the spokesperson.

"The intention is to use emergency style accommodation, and assessment of the site regarding its use is ongoing."

The Department was asked about the sort of numbers the expanded centre could potentially accommodate, but these details were not provided.

Instead, the spokesperson said a Community Engagement Team in the Department would be in contact with local representatives when it had more information about the future plans for the Lissywollen site.

"The Community Engagement Team has been established in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and with the support of Department of An Taoiseach, to engage directly with elected representatives, relevant local authorities, local development companies, and other entities and individuals," said the statement.

"The purpose of the team is to improve the flow of information regarding arrivals into areas and to help equip local communities with the accurate information required to help them understand the current situation.

"Once further information is available, the Community Engagement Team will engage with local public and community representatives."

In the late summer of 2022, a temporary tented facility was put in place at the Lissywollen centre.

At the peak of its use, there were some 175 additional asylum seekers staying in the tented encampment at the site, but they were all moved out of the tents and into "more suitable accommodation" by December of that year.

The mobile home units at the Lissywollen site were refurbished, including the installation of triple glazed windows and doors, in 2018.