MANAGEMENT at an asylum seeker centre in Cork are confiscating the personal fridges of residents, to be followed by their TV satellite dishes and children’s toys, as tensions rise at the Kinsale Road Accomm-odation Centre.
The move is being linked to health and safety concerns, following a recent inspection by the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA), the Department of Justice body responsible for overseeing the asylum seeker accommodation system.
The Kinsale Road facility is a ‘direct provision’ centre, with full board for all its occupants and a basic weekly allowance of 19.10 euro for all adults, and 9.60 euro per child.
A recent notice from the centre’s management – which has changed hands since protests last year, during which gardai were called in – referred to kettles, rice cookers and deep fat fryers in residents’ rooms, which it said are against regulations; multiple electrical appliances plugged into the same sockets or power points; fire notices and evacuation plans obstructed or defaced; and rooms congested with personal items such as children’s toys, creating a possible fire hazard.
Referring to the satellite dishes, the notice said that “TV dishes require permission from the local government authority”, and that those placed on site are a “danger” to residents and damage the building.
A resident at the centre told Metro Eireann that many residents had bought mini-fridges to store items such as yoghurt for babies, as items were often stolen by other residents from a central fridge at the centre, which the resident also claimed is “dirty”.
Asked how residents would finance the purchase of items such as fridges and TV satellite dishes, the resident said that some people use their occasional clothing allowance payment of 150 euro to save up for such items, while others are also working illegally. The resident said there are insufficient play areas for children, which is why residents have had to fork out for extra toys.
The source said management has already begun to “seize” items, with more searches happening this week. “People are angry, but they get you transferred if you are too loud,” the resident claimed.
Some people have been living at the centre for over five years, and are frustrated at the lack of control in their lives, added the resident, who also referred to a lack of self-catering facilities.
The Kinsale Road Accomm-odation Centre is State-owned and can house up to 300 residents, which includes single men and women as well as families.
The resident’s claims were put to the Department of Justice, but no comment had been received by press time.
