Residents at a direct provision centre in Co Clare are considering going on hunger strike in order to be transferred.
13 men have written to both the Minister for Justice and the Minister for Children asking to be moved from the Central Hotel in Miltown Malbay.
They say the conditions are substandard and they have serious concerns for the mental health of the men living there.
The Miltown Malbay Welcome Group is calling for the residents to be immediately moved to where they have access to supports.
Government response
This comes after last week, 32 residents in the Skellig Star Hotel in Kerry went on hunger strike as they were also demanding to be moved after an outbreak of more than 20 Covid-19 cases was confirmed there in April.
The protest began Tuesday morning, as residents said they were “traumatised” following the outbreak and had spent months raising unanswered concerns about their living conditions to Government.
Chief executive of migrant charity Doras, John Lennon, says it is shocking that people are pushed to these considerations:
"Sadly the situation in Cahersiveen was that the residents in the Skellig Star were driven to the point where they needed to go on hunger strike and finally there was a response from the Minister of Justice.
"I understand fully why residents in Milltown Malbay are asking, is this what it takes to get some action from the department?"
