Fear and uncertainty are the main emotions for 200 residents under International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) as they fight against potential relocation from their Limerick homes.
IPAS provides accommodation to people who have applied for international protection. It arranges accommodation and co-ordinates other services including health, social services, welfare and education for asylum seekers.
One family from Mungret are left devastated
Fatimah Ayodele is a mother of three who is facing forced relocation to Letterkenny, Donegal. A hard working woman, she is a full time care assistant in Avista,Lisnagry.
Upon speaking to Limerick Live, Fatimah explained she was left “devastated, shattered and full of tears” since she received the letter stating that she would have to uproot her young family – Ade 12, Simon 10, and Anjie 8.
Letters sent to residents from the Department of Justice informed them that their temporary accommodation in Abbey Grove, Mungret “ will no longer be in a position to accommodate IPAS applicants”.
The letters were sent on Friday, October 3 but Ms Ayodele and other residents claimed they actually received them on Friday, October 10.
The letters gave the residents until Friday, October 17 to leave their homes and community.
Ms.Ayodele said, “ I cannot imagine changing my kid’s school for a third time”. The children also temporarily attended St Patrick’s School on the Dublin road.
Eldest child Ade, currently attends Mungret Community College while his younger siblings Simon and Anjie are enrolled in Limerick‘s Educate Together.
Staff at Educate Together have been vocal about this injustice, sending a letter of complaint to the Government. “The children started in our school last year and we have done so much to support them . They are just settling and beginning to thrive and enjoy school life. All this family needs is to be placed in accommodation in the Mungret/ Dooradoyle area of Limerick to be able to continue with their school lives” the letter states.
Ms. Ayolede believes there is space in other IPAS accommodations in Limerick that she could move to. “I didn’t see it coming this fast. I can’t believe I would be transferred that far away. I was thinking, if they wanted to close this centre, they would consider putting us in other accommodation centres in Limerick, within this local area”.
The frustrated mother admitted she has not been coping well, losing sleep over this life changing move. “But I need to be strong for my children, as I am the only one, they look up to”.
A spokesperson for the Department of Justice says the accommodation centre in Abbey Grove is not closing down. Following an inspection, these units were more suitable for single people and couples.
Despite this, Fatimah Ayolede is adament she cannot leave her life in Mungret. “I am going to stay here. I don’t want to go anywhere. I have not packed. I have lived here for three years. I want my kids to be able to continue with their studies in the same school”.
Efforts were being made on Thursday by Limerick TD Conor Sheehan raising the matter with Colm Brophy, the Minister of State responsible for IPAS centres to grant them an 11th hour reprieve. Mr Sheehan stated “ it doesn’t make any sense to arbitrarily move people around the country like this”.
Independent Councillor Ursula Gavan called for “urgent intervention as the callous disregard for Fatimah and her young children is nothing short of disgraceful”.
The Limerick Voice will have more to follow on this story soon.