Irish IPA hotel hits back over tradesman and waste allegations as protestors blamed for ‘block’

A west of Ireland hotel has rejected allegations that a “non registered” tradesman carried out work at the hotel ahead of the arrival of up to 120 asylum seekers.

The Department of Integration and Safe Electric are understood to be carrying out their own separate investigations into the allegations surrounding the complaints made in relation to the Twin Trees Hotel in Ballina, county Mayo.

The hotel has also rejected a separate complaint made by a Ballina mother with the HSE Environment Health Officer who alleged that there has been an “accumulation of construction waste at the site”, which she claimed is leading to “an increase in rats”.

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It is understood Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman’s department received several emails from people in the Ballina area last week in relation to work by a tradesman that was carried out on the grounds of the hotel. The allegations are currently being investigated and the owners of the hotel have denied any wrongdoing.

It is illegal for a non-registered contractor to carry out restricted electrical works under the Electricity Regulation Act 1999, as amended.

A Department of Integration spokesman confirmed an ‘investigation’ is taking place and outlined that the responsibility is with the owners.

He added: “When providing accommodation the onus is on the provider to ensure that the property is of an adequate standard and that the provider will provide the services in accordance with good industry practice and comply with all applicable laws including but not limited to all obligations in the field of health and safety, environmental, social, child protection, and labour law that apply at the place where the services are provided.

“Should it be verified that a provider is in contravention of their contractual obligations, the Department will take the appropriate steps to ensure an accommodation provider rectifies these matters in compliance with the relevant legislation.”

“Safe Electric, who holds a register of all registered and qualified electrical contractors, have also been notified and in an email response to one of the complainants they confirmed “an investigation will be carried out immediately”.

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth announced in April that 120 beds were to be provided for families seeking international protection at the premises located on the Downhill Road in Ballina.

Hundreds of people, who stated there had been no consultation with locals and claimed the hotel is an unsuitable location, protested in Ballina on Saturday April 20 and objected to the plans.

The owners of the Twin Trees Hotel were contacted for comment and a response, and they have denied all of the allegations.

A spokesman for the hotel said “all works carried out at the property were completed by qualified contractors”.

The spokesman said they have cooperated with the relevant departments and there is no evidence of any rodent activity on site.

“The spokesman said that the hotel had been able to remove some of the waste [in recent weeks] but not all of it and that the waste referred to had remained onsite due to protesters blocking the rear entrance of the property.”

“Due to the protesters actions it [had] been unsafe to remove the waste.” However, the hotel confirmed on Wednesday that they “were able to remove some of the waste, but not all of it”

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