Athlone asylum seeker centre issues "are still under discussion" says Department

The Department in charge of Ireland's immigration system has confirmed it "does not intend to defend" planning issues relating to its controversial, development of a 1,000-person asylum seeker centre in Athlone.

However, it added that "other matters" connected to the project in Lissywollen "remain under discussion".

In its first public statement since news broke on Monday evening that it was conceding a High Court challenge against the project that was brought by five Athlone councillors, the Department pointed out the case was still before the court.

Work to develop the temporary accommodation for 1,000 male asylum seekers, on land next to the existing and long-established direct provision centre in Lissywollen, began on October 8.

The first 92 residents then moved into the new accommodation on December 4.

However, local councillors Paul Hogan, Frankie Keena, Aengus O'Rourke, John Dolan, and now-TD Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, had challenged the validity of the development in the High Court on environmental grounds.

On Monday, the court was told that the legal challenge was being conceded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and that the development would now be regarded as "unauthorised".

Responding yesterday (Tuesday) evening to queries from the Westmeath Independent about the Athlone development, a Department spokesperson said: "There are ongoing legal proceedings in relation to the planning process at this site, which have not yet concluded.

"While the State does not intend to defend the planning issues, other matters remain under discussion, and we are unable to comment further while these matters remain before the court."

The case is again listed for mention at the High Court tomorrow (Thursday).

Sinn Féin TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire cited the Athlone case in a statement which said the Government "cannot ignore local communities" when identifying and developing sites for international protection applicants.

"The approach the Government has taken to locating accommodation centres has been chaotic," he said.

"Their ongoing failure to plan ahead and to communicate has been bad for communities and bad for people who are seeking asylum.

"Their decision to concede this High Court challenge underlines how flawed the Government’s approach has been," said the Cork South Central TD.

"The decision by the State not to defend the case points to the fact that the incoming Government are going to have to change their approach.

"The Government now needs to come forward and clarify how it intends to respond to this development.

"This case should serve as a catalyst for the Government to accept its approach to date clearly isn’t working and finally implement the changes that are needed."

The Sinn Féin TD went on to say that, while the State's approach "left a lot to be desired", there was no excuse for violence.

"It is absolutely unacceptable that staff have been injured and threats have been made to residents at this accommodation site. This is reprehensible behaviour and I condemn it entirely.

"Where people have concerns, they have every right to express their concerns in legitimate ways and indeed the majority of people have done so in this instance.

"However, there can be no tolerance whatsoever of violence and intimidation, and the minority of people who are engaged in this appalling behaviour are totally out of order," stated Deputy Ó Laoghaire.