"Joanna Byrne TD, who represents the Louth constituency, told the Dáil: "The Government has paid millions of euro for asylum-seeker accommodation to this company which is owned by a man who the Criminal Assets Bureau linked to the Drogheda gang feud. "Recent media reports suggest that the owner of this company, Secure Accommodation Management, has been paid €10.2m since it was set up in September 2022. Indeed, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality highlighted its huge profits for 2023.""
"Ms Byrne made her claims under Dáil privilege last month when speaking about a fire at a Drogheda Ipas centre where 28 people were staying. The fire was deliberately started. Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan terminated the contract with Secure Accommodation Management on November 30. According to the latest figures published by the Department of Justice, the company was paid €1.3m for providing accommodation for international protection applicants in the four months from May to July this year. The company made a profit of €447,000 in 2023, according to the latest accounts filed with the company's office."
A liquidator was appointed to Secure Accommodation Management following the termination of its contract by the Justice Minister on November 30. Allegations under Dáil privilege claimed the company received millions for asylum-seeker accommodation and linked its owner to individuals mentioned in a Criminal Assets Bureau affidavit. Reported payments include €1.3m for May to July and an alleged €10.2m since September 2022, with 2023 profits of €447,000 recorded in filed accounts. Sinn Féin criticised government funding of international protection accommodation services and raised concerns about substantial financial gains by a small number of providers.
#secure-accommodation-management #asylum-seeker-accommodation #contract-termination #criminal-assets-bureau
Read at Irish Independent
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]