Speaking from his shop located directly across from a new asylum seeker accommodation facility in Rathmines, Dublin, Tom O’Keeffe confirmed things have unfolded smoothly. The building, initially intended to function as a 78-bed “business hotel” devoid of restaurant and bar facilities, was presented by its proprietors to the State for utilisation as a sanctuary for asylum seekers.
The building owners, Ray Byrne and Eoin Doyle, also possess another property named Stauntons on the Green on St Stephen’s Green. This new establishment issued its welcome to residents earlier this year.
O’Keeffe opined that Sinn Féin’s recent scheme suggesting the sheltering of asylum seekers in more affluent districts was wise. He postulated the need for greater strategic planning in setting up such centres.
He noted that allotting groups of asylum seekers in estates without common facilities such as bars and restaurants, though they may not necessarily frequent bars, could be pointless. In Rathmines, these individuals can blend into the scene without issue, according to him.
Meanwhile, Piaras Dineen, a resident of Rathmines, felt uncertain about the extent to which wealthier areas were contributing to the accommodation of asylum seekers.
He referenced a facility in St Mary’s on Clyde Road that was met with objections from individuals who didn’t reside in the area. Dineen speculated that wealthier individuals may feel less economically menaced by asylum seekers when compared to those from less privileged backgrounds, who may be easy to blame.
The sentiments are variable in Dundrum, a location where over 450 asylum seekers are housed in military-standard tents within the previous Central Mental Hospital’s State-owned grounds. An additional 200 or so have found shelter in Mount St Mary’s, a former seminary in adjacent Milltown. A local Dundrum inhabitant, Sean Fay, observed a range of opinions concerning the new arrivals. “A few are slightly concerned, some significantly – as someone who grew up in London during the 70s and 80s, it’s not a novel scene for me,” he commented.
Raised by Irish parents who settled in London, he was a son of emigrants turned immigrant, navigating through a London neighbourhood under the shadow of the harsh British National Party. “They did not appreciate us. The Irish were despised. But given that we were Caucasian, we gradually earned their acceptance,” he shares.
When asked regarding the proposition by Sinn Féin that residence centres be allocated in more affluent localities, Fay expressed that the matter was multifaceted. “The positioning of such centres requires consensus from both the government and the private homeowners. If the proprietors in Donnybrook are averse to it, what actions can be undertaken?” Fay is of an opinion that Sinn Féin struggles as its supporters consist of socialists and nationalists who occasionally clash. He states, “Socialism is universal, whereas nationalism is not, so I wish them good fortune.”
A fellow Dundrum inhabitant, Tríona McHale, when questioned about neighbourhood perceptions of local asylum seekers, observed an atmosphere of tolerance and comprehension. “However, there would be an uproar in case there’s any disturbance from their side,” she adds. McHale dismisses the notion that decisions about locations are tied to social ramifications, suggesting instead that it hinges more on available physical space.
Sinn Féin proposes that accommodation centres adhere to the Pobal deprivation index to ensure they don’t take root in severely socio-economically deprived locations. The index identifies two areas, Dundrum and Rathmines, labelled as affluent and ‘above average’ respectively. The proposed centre at Coolock, Dublin 17 – recently caught in episodes of violence – is registered as disadvantaged and surrounded by areas earmarked as ‘extremely disadvantaged’, the poorest grade on the Pobal index.
Scrutiny of accommodation centres’ locations, as divulged in the Dáil, ranges from very prosperous to highly deprived, as per the Pobal index classification. Fiona Hurley, head of the Migrant Rights Centre in Cork City, is of the belief that accommodation centres for asylum seekers span all kinds of vicinities and services’ availability in certain locations shouldn’t impede inclusion but instead, prompt how existing services can be bettered for all residents, old and new.
Amanda Nyoni, a representative of the Ireland’s Asylum Seekers Movement, is against the notion of conducting audits to decide on the location of asylum seeker housing centres, since according to her, it fosters more animosity. She, however, concedes that there appears to be a higher concentration of seekers in less privileged areas compared to affluent ones. It necessitates a more thoughtful approach when determining where to place individuals. She argues that a thorough nationwide audit is crucial for identifying all the needs of Irish communities. Nevertheless, she is concerned that the proposed audit may cause strife among disadvantaged groups of individuals.
Nyoni’s views come in light of continuous criticism of the state’s level of interaction with local communities concerning accommodation facilities. An official in the field argues that one major issue is the reluctance of local representatives to become engaged. The source says these representatives prefer to present the issues the communities are facing rather than assist in comprehending the need for these habitation centres. The source believes that an audit would only confirm that there is a need for more GPs and housing across the country – a need that is unconnected to immigration but more to do with the GP system challenges.
In response, Ivana Bacik from the Labour Party stressed the importance of respectfully acknowledging the people’s concerns rather than dismissing them. She encourages open discussions about the asylum-seeking process, maintaining that the significant fact is that over 100,000 individuals have comfortably settled in Ireland, with only a minimal number facing rejection.
The public opposition in East Wall, Dublin, in November 2022 against accommodating about 400 asylum seekers in a disused office block on East Wall Road is seen by many as the premier reaction to the government’s attempts to fulfil its duties pertaining to international protection rights. Malachy Steenson, a local political activist and a significant participant in these protests, was recently elected as an independent to the Dublin City Council.
Local inhabitant, Aoife King, candidly admits that there seems to be little chatter in her vicinity about the community centre. She observes the occasional comment on social media, yet physical engagement within her neighbourhood seems minimal. She regularly passes by the centre and has not noticed any pressing concerns lately. She also remarks that she doesn’t perceive any open ridicule or complaints about the hub.
Holly Donnelly is a local Spar employee who also resides locally. She believes that although a portion of individuals might still be discontented about the centre, they’ve reconciled with the reality of its presence. In her opinion, the turmoil has somewhat subsided since they’ve understood the permanence of the situation.
Josephine Kelleher, another local, further shares her experience during the 2022 disturbances. She describes an encounter with an anti-immigration protestor looking for East Wall Road. She has no personal acquaintances who partook in the protest. She adds that for the past two years, the premises has housed asylum seekers and she has yet to observe any worrying incidents or fluctuations. Everyone, she concludes, appears to be harmoniously minding their business.