AROUND 300 people will be accommodated at the new centre for refugee accommodation in the Shannon Free Zone, it has now emerged.
While the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth had been very reluctant to reveal any details about their Shannon plans, in a statement which was passed onto Clare TD Cathal Crowe it said, “The Department is working with the OPW to develop proposals/design to use a state owned property in Shannon Free Zone to accommodate circa 300 International Protection Applicants. This engagement is ongoing and final details will be disclosed when designs and contract with a provider to operate the facility is finalised. Timelines are indicative but it is anticipated that the property will come online later in the year.”
The information was provided to Deputy Crowe only after he made an official complaint to the Ceann Comhairle’s office, around the Department’s decision not to share information with elected representatives.
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked with a number of other publications in Limerick, Cork and Galway. His first book will be published in December 2024.