A Dungloe businessman has issued a statement following a protest against what organisers say is the endangerment of “the townspeople with the introduction of criminals and convicts.”
P.J. Boyle has confirmed that he will no longer be accepting individuals sent from the housing sector of Donegal County Council.
It follows an incident on Friday last, during which a man became agitated and threatened local Post Office staff.
In a statement Mr Boyle says over the last couple of years they have engaged with the local authority to house people identified as social housing applicants availing of homeless vouchers and awaiting permanent housing.
He says once it is established there is a vacancy, he is not privy to their social standing, personal data, including criminal record or any medical history and they are not authorised to carry out a vetting process.
Mr Boyle says, in response to the upset and unrest in the Rosses and the wider community they have taken the tough decision to no longer accept individuals sent from Donegal County Council.
He says the several businesses he owns along with his cousin were not designed nor fashioned with a view to attract or accommodate anybody with antisocial tendencies.
Mr Boyle says from April 2022 to July 2024 they housed a number of people under the Ukrainian refugee scheme and that they do not and have never accommodated any persons identified on the IPPS scheme.
It is his understanding that the last voucher was issued to them by Donegal County Council on Thursday, December 19th.
Statement in full:
“Over the last couple of years we have engaged with local authorities in Donegal to house people identified as social housing applicants availing of Homeless vouchers and awaiting permanent housing. These individuals were residing with us on a bed and breakfast basis.
My understanding is the applicants arrive at our premises after a phone call from the housing department from a housing officer asking if we have vacancies. Once it is established that we have a vacancy, the person or persons are given our details and contact us directly.
We are not privy to their social standing, personal data, including criminal record nor any medical history.
We are not authorised nor have we have any authority to vet people. We accept people on the basis that the local authority as a housing authority deem the people suitable to be provided with temporary accommodation at one our locations. We do not discriminate against people based on race, religion or gender orientation.
In response to the upset and unrest in the Rosses and the wider community we have taken the tough decision that we can no longer accept individuals sent from the housing sector of local government.
My cousin and I own several businesses in the Dungloe area of which I am the Director, including two hotels, a bed and breakfast and a hostel, along with several buildings all designed for hospitality. We have not designed nor fashioned any of these premises with a view to attract or accommodate anybody with anti-social tendencies. We take it that the local government agencies who request temporary accommodation for individuals deem them suitable to be accommodated at one of our venues. We employ approximately 120 people in the locality.
Although I cannot speak about individuals nor do I wish to, I would like to state the following as fact.
From April 2022 until July 2024 we housed a number of people under the DCEDIY (Ukrainian refugees) scheme.
We do not and have never accommodated any persons identified on the IPPS scheme (International protection procurement services).
My understanding is the last voucher issued to us by local authorities expired on Thursday, the 19th of December.”
