SEVERAL HUNDRED residents at an asylum seekers’ hostel in Galway have called on the Department of Justice to improve their living conditions.
Residents have also argued that the Government is spending needless amounts of taxpayers’ money by keeping people on asylum application lists for up to six years in some cases.
Almost 200 people of various nationalities took part in a demonstration at Lisbrook House, formerly the Ibis Hotel, on the outskirts of Galway city yesterday morning.
Nigerian science student Olumide Ojo, a spokesman for the residents, said that frustration over issues related to food and crowded accommodation had sparked off the protest.
Algerian resident Hamid Sadda, who said he had been in hostel accommodation for six years while awaiting his asylum application, explained that some residents found their weekly subsistence payment of €19.10 a week had been cut without explanation.
“We’re not allowed to cook our own food here, we are given washing powder once a week that is so small you could not wash anything, and we are being treated like animals,” said Bijoux Nseya from the Congo, who has been in Ireland for 3½ years.
Residents were succumbing to depression and other physical ailments due to the conditions and children were suffering, the group explained.
“If we were given the right to work, while the Government was deciding on our applications, we would actually save the Irish taxpayer money, and pay tax, and be part of Irish society – which is what we want to be,” Mr Ojo said.
Lisbrook House has 30 staff, and is run for the Reception and Integration Agency by private company Bridgestock Ltd.
Pat O’Connor, manager of the facility, yesterday would not make any comment.
The Department of Justice said that Bridgestock Ltd met residents’ representatives yesterday to deal with their concerns.
“The chief executive and general manager of the contracting company which runs the centre travelled to Galway this morning.
“We understand that the dispute arising internally between the management and the residents is now over with the protesters having agreed to form a committee which will meet with Bridgestock Ltd on Friday.
“This course of action has the support of the department,” read the statement from the Department of Justice.
