The owner of a Dungloe hotel has said the business will no longer accept vouchers from the local authority to accommodate homeless people.
PJ Boyle, co-owner of a number of businesses in the West Donegal town, issued a statement last night.
It follows a protest by more than 400 people in the town earlier this week over the arrival of people into the town who were staying at Mr Boyle’s Wild Atlantic Hostel and the River House Bed & Breakfast.
Tensions were high after at least one man was arrested following a public order incident at the local post office.
It later transpired that some of these people had been before the court and were on remand.
Locals threatened to boycott Mr Boyle’s establishments as a result of the incidents.
In his statement, Mr Boyle outlined the application process for people seeking accommodation and how management were not “privy to their social standing, personal data, including criminal record nor any medical history.”
He concluded his statement by saying that the last voucher on the accommodation scheme ended on Thursday last, the 19th of December.
The following is Mr Boyle’s 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, 2024.”
