Barracks: 45 extra units to bring population to 580

Number of IP applicants to double

Columb Barracks will soon be home to nearly 580 people seeking temporary and international protection (IP) after it emerged in recent days that the Department of Integration plans to install 45 new modular units at the site.

The 45 new modular units, which the department informed local elected representatives will house up to 320 international protection applicants and includes five service units, will replace the tented accommodation that currently accommodates 160. In addition to the 160 IP applicants currently living in tents, there are also 257 Ukrainian refugees living in 62 modular units installed on the parade ground.

Local TDs and councillors were informed by email on Wednesday that Minister for Integration Roderic O'Gorman had issued an order and that the development is expected to begin in the coming weeks. The duration of the ministerial order is for five years and comes a little over two months after the department stated that there were no plans to install additional modular housing at the barracks following a report in the national media.

In the email sent to local politicians on Wednesday afternoon, the department said that the installation of the modular homes at the barracks is part of its Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy (CAS) for IP applicants, which “aims to address the current serious shortfall in accommodation for people seeking international protection and to build a more sustainable system for the long term”.

“The delivery of this accommodation [at the barracks] is being prioritised as a matter of urgency due to the unprecedented numbers of IP applicants arriving in the state, which has resulted in the department being unable to offer accommodation to over 2,000 people.”

The department also said that it will work with “health, education and other public services in the area to inform them and allow for planning and capacity”.

The news about the installation of more modular units at the barracks has received a mixed response from local politicians.

Deputy Robert Troy said that while he continues to believe that large towns and cities are the most suitable locations when it comes to providing accommodation for people seeking temporary and international protection, installing more modular homes at Columb Barracks is not the best use of taxpayers' money.

“I think when we're housing people seeking asylum, large towns are the most appropriate location. People have access to a multitude of services, they have access to public transport, those who have the opportunity to work have a better chance of getting work, college, all of that. I think the government is right to be looking at towns rather than small rural villages that don't have the same services as towns.”

“But I do feel that this was an operational barracks up to a decade ago, which housed up to 300 serving soldiers, and to my mind, the money would be far better spent bringing the buildings back up to a habitable state. The buildings would be there for generations to come and be able to be used for social housing in the future or for other uses. But letting the buildings fall down and putting modular units around them is just lunacy in my mind.”

Deputy Sorca Clarke and other local TDs received a phone call from an International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) representative early on Wednesday afternoon informing them of the ministerial order. She says that the government has failed to uphold its commitment to engage with communities.

“Phone calls from representatives of IPAS is not engagement. And to hear that this decision was taken by ministerial order is a damning indictment of their government and their so-called management of migration.”

Noting that it is a little over two months since Minister O'Gorman told her that there were no plans to house any more people in the barracks, Deputy Clarke said that “it's important to question the veracity of any information that I, as a democratically elected TD, receive.”

“When a minister says one thing and what transpires is literally 180 degrees from that statement. Anything else announced or communicated is therefore automatically questionable.”

Deputy Clarke was also critical of the timing of the announcement on Wednesday afternoon as the Dáil went into its summer recess the following day.

“It's no longer misinformation. It's no longer a lack of engagement. This is now a well-worn path by government. They say one thing and do something else. A commitment was given to engage with communities. I have yet to see that commitment upheld.”

In a statement issued to the Westmeath Examiner, Minister Peter Burke said that In a statement issued to the Westmeath Examiner a short time ago, Minister Burke said that he continues to be in contact with Minister O’Gorman’s office.

"While it seems a decision has been made to replace the tents with modular homes, I want to ensure that all necessary supports will be made available to the community of Mullingar and those using the site.

"Additional capacity may be needed in terms of education, health, social supports and security so I will be raising this and seeking commitments."

The Mayor of Mullingar, Councillor Ken Glynn, was also critical of what he says is the lack of engagement by the department with local representatives and the communities they serve. He also said that he never believed that Columb Barracks should have been used as an accommodation centre for international protection applicants and Ukrainian people granted temporary protection. He says that other state-owned sites should have been used.

“I am not happy with the lack of consultation. It was zero. I think as a community, we all understand that we have to help during these very difficult times, which I think as a country Ireland has done, and certainly Mullingar has played its role.”

“This facility is a community facility. It has a proud history. We've been talking for a long time about how we need a military museum. Artifacts from the barracks have been sitting in boxes in Athlone for years. These artefacts are people's family history.”

“Why have we not invested money to improve the barracks as a facility for the community? There are loads of groups in there. This ministerial order has more or less said that these units are going to be there for the next few years.”

“I am not happy that as a county councillor and the mayor, I've had no say in any of this. You are learning about it by email at five to five in the evening. It was nearly in the media before I found out about it.”

Councillor Glynn said that Westmeath County Council “frowns” on people installing log cabins or modular housing units on their properties for family members struggling to find accommodation. He says that the speed at which the government can move to install accommodation at the barracks “frustrates” people.

“There is a frustration there that modular homes can be built at a whim within a very short space of time. Councillors and deputies and senators, we're all dealing with people who are facing homelessness and are on the housing list. There is frustration out there.”