A historic building in Dublin city centre is being used to house refugees.
The Staircase, at 21 Aungier Street, is one of Dublin's oldest houses and dates back to 1660 - when the street was first developed. Back then, the Staircase was a mansion which the elite of the time lived in.
The building fell into disrepair and was under threat of demotion until the Dublin Civic Trust restored it in the 1990s. The trust brought the building back into use as a guesthouse with conditions relating to the preservation of medieval features such as timber beams, chimneys, and walls.
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It was previously reported that the building was used by the Peter McVerry Trust to house homeless people. The Department of Integration confirmed to Dublin Live that the building and others on Aungier Street are being used to house 60 International Protection applicants.
It comes as the Minister Roderic O'Gorman's Department struggles to house asylum seekers and refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine. Last year, 15,000 International Protection applicants from various countries and 70,000 Ukrainian refugees arrived in Ireland.
A spokeswoman said: "The property referred to in Aungier Street has been contracted by the Department to accommodate international protection applicants. Local elected representatives were briefed by the Department in advance of these properties accepting residents.
"The Department can confirm that there are 60 people accommodated between a number of properties offered by the accommodation provider in Aungier Street and the total capacity there is for 60 people who are international protection applicants who arrived earlier this week."
She added: "All new properties which the Department contracts are required to provide detailed information in relation to suitability for use including fire certification and other information to ensure that properties meet the National Standards. Properties are also subject to inspections and all properties offered to the Department are carefully appraised before contracts are issued."
One local source criticised the move and said there had not been any consultation with those living in the area and with local businesses. They said: "We have an overload in the area which we have had in the past.
"It is kind of crazy for one area with no cooperation or talking to people in the community which is quite disturbing. I have no interaction whatsoever [with the Government or Council]."
Dublin Live understands local residents are planning a protest which will take place later today around the lack of information given to the local community. Independent Councillor Mannix Flynn said the far right are "not welcome" at the protest.
He said: "These are ordinary community people who live in the neighbourhood and who are concerned. It is very unfortunate that they have to go and protest to get simple information.
"I hope that the far right elements and those who are hell bent on racism do not hijack this event and turn it into some sort of circus. They are not welcome in any circumstances."
Minister O'Gorman previously said housing refugees has entered an "extremely difficult" phase with as many as 50 refugees in Ireland without accommodation.
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