National: Former hotel must undergo 'full assessment' before it can be deemed suitable for refugees

The former Park House Hotel in Edgeworthstown must undergo a 'full assessment' before it can be deemed suitable to accommodate Ukrainian refugees. 

It emerged during the January meeting of Longford County Council that the property was being considered for housing refugees fleeing the war, however, councillors were informed that 'no solid information' was available as the Council isn't liaising directly with the property owner.

Longford Leader / Longford Live contacted the Department of Integration for comment in relation to the speculation about the Edgeworthstown property but received no response at the time of the print edition going to press at Tuesday lunchtime.

And yesterday afternoon (Wednesday, January 24), Longford / Westmeath Fianna Fáil TD Joe Flaherty outlined that after several weeks of endeavouring to get an official response from the Department of Equality & Integration on plans for the former hotel premises in Edgeworthstown, one had been furnished to him. 

He was supplied with the following;

"The Ukraine Crisis Temporary Accommodation Team (UCTAT) is responding to an offer of accommodation made in respect of this property.

"Discussions with the provider are at an early stage, and a full assessment of the property must take place before it can be deemed suitable.

"Should it be deemed suitable for accommodation, the Community Engagement Team will provide detailed information in direct engagements with elected representatives in advance."

In December 2022, Longford County Council planners gave the green light for the demolition of the former Park House Hotel at Main Street, Edgeworthstown, thereby paving the way to construct a mixed use, two storey terraced block incorporating one retail or commercial space on the ground floor level, a one-bedroom apartment on the first floor level and seven two-storey two-bedroom terrace dwelling houses.

The application also covered construction of a two-bedroom single-storey house, and the upgrading of the existing entrance, proposed internal access road, car parking, green open space, bicycle stands, EV charging points, proposed connections to the existing foul sewer, surface water and watermain networks servicing.