‘Further information’ sought on White Horse refugee plan

“Further information” has been sought in respect of a proposal to accommodate Ukrainian refugees at the former White Horse Hotel in Cootehill.

The property is being considered by the Department of Integration and its Ukraine Offers Management Team has requested the additional information.

“Further information has been requested from the provider. No further information is available at this time,” a spokesperson for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth told The Anglo-Celt.

The statement comes as a local body ‘Cootehill Concerned Community Group’ appears to have scaled back their peaceful protests outside the property every Sunday. They have been staged weekly for almost a year, demanding engagement and further information in relation to the new residents and services and infrastructure to be put in place to support them.

The White Horse Hotel, a Brady family run business since 1965, through its current owner Thomas Brady Jr of Old Bridge Road, Cootehill, was granted a new liquor licence for the premises at the November sittings of Cavan Circuit Court.

As per the terms of the licence, the property can now reopen to the public, albeit the main bar and a separate function area to the rear must remain closed until fire authority conditions are fully complied with.

By way of Freedom of Information, the Celt obtained records last month that detailed how the hotel proposed to provide ‘full board (three meals per day) for residents or self-catering with groceries provided for initial two-week period with all dietary requirements being catered for’.

Details of proposed nightly rates for single, adult and child occupancy were redacted from the information obtained.

Some rooms could accommodate up to five people to a room; while others could cater for three people. An adjacent house could accommodate six people. All bedrooms were proposed for use including the hotel’s former Bridal Suite.

The Department ask that the property is insured for €6.5 million public liability, and insured as a ‘multi-occupancy premises’.

Castlesaunderson proposal

Separately, the Department is still in “negotiations” meanwhile with Scouting Ireland over the use of the Castlesaunderson International Scout Centre for the “accommodation for people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine”.

As first reported by The Anglo-Celt towards the end of last year, the facility is being looked at for families currently being sheltered in tents at the Electric Picnic site in Stradbally, Co Laois, since early September 2023.

The department however said it is “unable to give details” relating to any specific accommodation suppliers while “negotiations are ongoing”. This is due to the “commercial sensitivity” of these negotiations.

The Celt understands that several dozen Ukrainian refugees were due to arrive at Castlesaunderson in December but this didn’t materialise due to concerns about wrap around services such as transport and access to schools, healthcare and shops.

With sleeping accommodation for up to 66 indoors, across bedrooms for four and six people upstairs and an 18 bed dorm downstairs, the €3.7 million European-funded Castle Saunderson International Scout Centre was previously used by the HSE as a Covid testing site.

The centre, officially opened by President Michael D Higgins in August 2012, also has camp grounds suitable for 1,000 people.

The facility has seen limited use by Scouting Ireland since the pandemic hit. It boasts both indoor and outdoor toilet and shower facilities, a large conference room, an industrial kitchen, dining hall, and a common room.

Scouting Ireland told the Celt it has “no plans” to sell Castlesaunderson as it remains a “key site” within their network of National Scout Centres.

They added, when questioned in relation to the use of the property to house refugees, that the organisation “is cognisant of its role in Irish Society and has in the past supported the HSE during the COVID-19 pandemic. Scouting will continue to work with the Government, should the need arise”.