Leaders back use of Thornton Hall site to house asylum seekers

The Government is understood to be examining using the Thornton Hall site for asylum seekers. File picture

The Taoiseach and Tánaiste have backed the use of the Thornton Hall site to house asylum seekers.

The site in north Dublin was purchased in the mid-2000s for a large-scale prison to replace Mountjoy. However, the project stalled and it has since been leased out by the State and is being used as agricultural land.

However, the Government is now understood to be examining how to put facilities and tents on the site to house asylum seekers.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin said he believes the site should be used to house those asylum seekers who currently do not have accommodation.

"I understand there's work under way between the Department of Children, Department of Justice, and other departments in that respect," he said.

We’re exhausting every possible opportunity that exists in terms of utilisation of sites that are owned by the State.

With 70 tents still situated along the banks of the Grand Canal in Dublin, Mr Martin said the alternative "has to be better facilities" but  there is currently "no great alternative". 

Tánaiste Micheál Martin said he believes the Thornton Hall site should be used for asylum seekers who do not have accommodation. Picture: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Mr Martin had previously said the provision of tents by charities for homeless asylum seekers was "not a good idea".

Taoiseach Simon Harris said a number of sites are being examined by the Government for tented accommodation, and confirmed that Thornton Hall has been discussed as a “logical” option.

The Taoiseach said to get on top of migration, it was important to move the conversation beyond simply accommodation.

“It’s bizarre the only part that we want to discuss is accommodation. We have to also discuss why are so many more people coming to our country,” Mr Harris said.

Our economy benefits from it, our country benefits, our society benefits. It is a good thing.

Separately, Mr Martin called a video of a man shouting racial abuse at the canvassing team of Fianna Fáil election candidate in Limerick Suzzie O'Deniyi "shocking". 

The clip, which has been shared on social media, shows a man racially abusing Ms O'Deniyi.

Mr Martin said that Ms O'Deniyi, who is aiming to become the first black woman elected in Limerick, is a "fine candidate".

“But some of these people think, because of the colour of their skin or whatever, feel [they can] still be subjected to attack and should be attacked.

"It is just so off the wall, but dangerously off the wall, that one would have to worry, one would have to be concerned about it," he said.