Plans by the Department of Justice to house asylum seekers in Ballinamore, Co Leitrim have been postponed, it has been reported, reports RTE.
Community representatives met with Minister of State David Stanton and Department officials yesterday afternoon, with the minister agreeing to pause the department’s plans.
The Ballinamore Community Group had begun a continuous protest outside an apartment complex in the town last Monday, opposing plans to accommodate 130 asylum seekers there.
The group has welcomed asylum seekers to the town before, but says that the number involved in this case is out of proportion and would increase the town’s population by 15% overnight, reports RTE.
The community group released a statement last night describing the meeting with the minister and department officials as robust and positive.
It states: “The minister having heard the serious and justified concerns as communicated to him now intends to liaise further with his Department/officials in the coming days and, following that, to communicate with representatives of the community before anything further arises,” reports RTE.
Spokesman Gordon Hughes said: “The minister gave an unequivocal commitment to the representatives that nothing further will be progressed while he now considers the options open to him,”reports RTE.
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