Sudden closing of Newbridge IPAS centre leaves residents distraught
Eyre Powell IPAS centre, Newbridge
RESIDENTS of Eyre Powell IPAS centre received less than 24 hours’ notice that they were to be moved from Newbridge to centres in Dundalk and Tipperrary.
The people living at Eyre Powell received a letter yesterday, 11 February, stating that they would be moved, with no indication of where or when, and some residents expected to be moved today.
The reason for the closing of the centre relates to fire safety, where the IPAS centre does not meet the requirements for a Fire Safety Certificate.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth sent the letter alerting residents of their move, and said: “In addition to this notice, you will each receive a letter with the specific location you are moving to and the date of the move.”
“We will not be in a position to confirm where you are moving until you receive your letter with the location.”
This move will impact 137 residents, including 27 children at different stages of education in the local schools. Some in the middle of their mock exams.
Cllr Chris Pender has been doing everything he can to assist the residents, pleading to local TD’s and government departments for help with the situation.
He said: “The whole situation is f**cking ridiculous. We have kids in school, people in work, people in college. These people are working in our community.”
“They can’t do this to human beings,” he continued.
Cllr Pender was outraged by this news and questioned the timing of the notifications by the Department to residents, noting that these moves would have had to be planned in advance: “It just logistically doesn’t make sense. There would need to be time to arrange and organise beds.”
