The former St. Mary’s Secondary School building in Ballina has been offered as accommodation for International Protection Applicants (IPAS).
This has been confirmed by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, as reported by the Western People.
The offer is currently being assessed by the Department and if it is to be approved as an IPAS centre, then local representatives, local authority and relevant groups will be contacted by the Community Engagement Team, in advance of the arrival of International Protection Applicants.
This process, according to a Department spokesperson, is put in place to help the local community to understand the situation and to assist in the integration process.
The site was quickly sold, privately, after St. Mary’s Secondary School relocated to a new state-of-the-art facility in September 2022.
