River Lodge Protest One Week On

River Lodge Trudder MAR24

ress release from the River Lodge protestors, issued on Thursday, March 21st 2024…

Since the early hours of Friday 15th March, the concerned community of Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow have been staging a 24-hour peaceful protest outside the gates of a derelict children’s home at River Lodge, Trudder House, after it emerged that plans were being considered by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, to use it as an IPAS center housing International Protection applicants.

The protesters are not political activists or agitators but a group of mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, grandparents, professionals and local business owners who have learned that the department are seeking to re-purpose the use of the old HSE gifted building, once center to horrific cases of child abuse, whilst operating as a home to the most vulnerable members of the travelling community.

The site has been derelict since it closed its doors for the final time back in 2014, however attempts have been made over recent years by local representatives to have it handed back to the community as a scouts den, youth centre or respite care centre. These have all been denied by local authorities due to the investment required to bring it to habitable standards.

According to Department officials the plan is still only at ‘Investigative Stages’ but on first sight it is clear that building work is at a much more advanced stage. Locals are seeking clarification from the Department on why there has been a complete absence of dialogue between officials and the local community.

Who will be housed here- will it be families or groups of undocumented men?
What are the potential numbers to be housed in the facility?

There are major concerns that the Department will initially open the center for families and then after a number of weeks move these on and introduce groups of undocumented men, who make up for the majority of International Protection Applicants – similar to what has happened at the Grand Hotel in Wicklow.

A spokesperson for the group stated, “We have seen what happened in Wicklow where families were integrating nicely into the local community and were suddenly moved on to accommodate the larger number of single men that required accommodation. This brought its own issues to that town that we do not want to see in ours. Our community has grown exponentially year on year but there has been no investment in local services or amenities. Our GPs are at capacity, local children are attending schools outside the locality because the 2 Primary schools are full and we only have a part time Garda Station.

“Now the government are trying to change the fabric of the town overnight by dumping people in a field with no long term strategy or supports. We are expected to live with it just because the government fails to admit that immigration is out of control.”

Another spokesperson said, “It is very easy for bystanders to criticise and label those protesting but speaking with us you will see that we have real worries – we are from different nationalities, different backgrounds and political viewpoints but we are all united in the genuine concern for the community we live and work in. We just want our voice to be heard.”

Peaceful protests will continue at the site and all concerned members of the community are welcome.