Tented Athlone accommodation 'coping well' with icy weather says Department

A Government Department stated that asylum seekers residing in tents at Lissywollen in Athlone have not been moved to indoor accommodation during the series of orange weather warnings for low temperatures this week.

It said that "heating facilities" were being used in the tents in Athlone, which were "coping well" with the conditions.

Some 185 male international protection applicants are currently being accommodated at the controversial facility in Lissywollen, which was put in place in the later months of last year.

For the third night in succession Westmeath is currently under an orange level weather warning for low temperatures and ice.

When asked if the 185 tented residents in Lissywollen were still being accommodated in the tents this week, a spokesperson for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth said this was the case.

"Our accommodation service at Midlands Accommodation Centre is managing well during the current cold weather and there are no plans to move people from the site at this time," the spokesperson said this evening (Thursday).

"The tented accommodation at the site is equipped to deal with poor weather conditions and there are heating facilities in the tents.

"Residents will be given additional bedding and blankets if necessary, and hot food and drinks will be served as always.

"International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) remain in ongoing contact with the centre's manager and we are keeping the situation under close review all through this week," the Department added.

A legal challenge against the tented accommodation was launched on behalf of five public representatives in Athlone in November, and the case is listed for the High Court on Monday, January 27.