Mosney refugees must leave centre

MOSNEY asylum seekers have been told they must leave the centre by tomorrow.

However, they say they are awaiting responses to appeals submitted to the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) outlining why they do not want to move. Many are being sent to Hatch Hall. The city centre location is a five-storey Victorian building which has previously been criticised as unsuitable for housing infirm or pregnant asylum seekers.

Owned by NAMA developer Gerry Barrett, his company, Edward Holdings, built the Edward Square development in Donnybrook, Dublin, and bought the former Jesuit building at Lower Hatch Street, Dublin, in 2004 for more than €16m.

In 2007, after being refused planning permission to turn it into a five-star boutique hotel, he was given permission to develop luxury apartments.

The RIA is demanding that more than 100 residents move to the former Jesuit student residence. In a letter to residents dated August 6, RIA says: “You no longer have any legal or administrative right to remain in Mosney and it is unacceptable that this situation should continue.”

RIA says it has “downsized” its contract with Mosney and now services are available at Hatch Hall.

The details of individual contracts between the RIA and private companies are not disclosed, and any enquiries made on the subject are dismissed due to the “commercial sensitivity” of such contracts.

However, it is known that the contractor is required to ensure that agreed capacity is achieved at all times, otherwise he or she is liable to pay damages to the Department of Justice.

According to the department, the current capacity for Hatch Hall is 210. So with 109 people expected to move, this means it is running at half capacity at the moment. During its time as student dorms, the highest number of residents was about 100.

The movement of asylum seekers to fill vacancies at other privately run hostels is expected to reduce the €90m annual cost of direct provision.