PLANS to house asylum seekers at a “direct provision centre” in Co Donegal have been delayed because of coronavirus.
Up to 350 people - a total of 60 families - were to take up residence at a former student accommodation complex in Letterkenny by the end of January. However, councillors for the town and area have been told they will not now arrive until the end of February at the earliest.
Chairman of Letterkenny, Milford municipal district committee, Donal Coyle said work was still required at the accommodation before the asylum seekers could take up residence. The complex includes a number of two and three-bedroomed units with kitchens, living rooms and bathrooms.
The development is the latest setback to delay the arrival of asylum seekers in Donegal. In 2018, the Caiseal Mara hotel in Moville was earmarked for direct provision for up to 100 people from Congo, Pakistan, Angola and eastern Europe.
However, the building was extensively damaged in an arson attack before it could be made ready. Following a separate attack on a security guard at the hotel, plans to houses refugees in the building were dropped.
The hotel has since been purchased by award-winning British theatre producer, John Gore, who is also one of the biggest financial backers of the British Conservative Party.
The direct provision scheme for asylum seekers has been met with opposition by a number of communities in Ireland. Opponents have claimed it takes no account of the pressure which would be placed on local services by the arrival of large numbers of people in smaller communities.
