It’s emerged that Accommodation for Ukrainian refugees provided by the owner of a bed and breakfast in Carrigallen in Co Leitrim was closed in recent months due to serious fire safety concerns being raised about the building.
Information reported to the Department of Integration, claimed that 103 refugees were being housed at Mitchell’s B&B while an inspection by officials found the bed and breakfast had capacity for just 50 people.
The Irish Times are reporting that an internal memo from March said three lower-level rooms had been “adapted for accommodation”, which was unauthorised.
Officials queried whether any Ukrainian refugees were being accommodated under the commercial contract “in other premises” but said the response was “unclear
A joint inspection report by the department and Leitrim County Council said officials would “need to identify where additional guests are residing”.
The Local Authority subsequently served a fire safety notice to the owner of the building on March 27th.
The notice, prohibited the building being used for accommodation.
A spokesman for the Department of Integration, said it had immediately terminated the contract at the start of April.
Today’s report also claims that the use of secondary properties to provide temporary accommodation was uncovered, which runs contrary to the Government and department policy of not interfering with the private rental market.
In response, a solicitor acting for Mitchells Hospitality Ltd stated it had provided accommodation for 88 refugees “on a full-board basis for a 12-month period” across 18 rooms in its hotel and 16 rooms in its bed and breakfast.
The solicitor said Mitchells Hospitality took the fire safety notice, which did not relate to “excessive numbers” being housed on the premises, “extremely seriously”. Necessary building works undertaken to bring the building into compliance were nearly finished.
