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KNOCKALISHEEN - INFORMATION
Knockalisheen is a system-built Accommodation Centre
located north of Limerick city just inside County Clare. The centre is
part of the Irish Government's Dispersal and Direct Provision system which
has been operating since April 2000. Under this system all applicants
for Asylum in Ireland are offered accommodation in Centres such as Knockalisheen
while they wait for their asylum applications to be determined.
Knockalisheen is the first system built accommodation for asylum
seekers in Ireland.
There are 7 acres of open ground around the complex, and there are 2 playgrounds
and a football pitch.
The land it is built on is State owned, specifically by the Defence
Forces. The site was previously used to house Hungarian refugees in
1956.
MANAGEMENT
The Knockalisheen Accommodation Centre is managed by Eurest Ltd. who have
undertaken to provide full board accommodation at the centre for a period
of 2 years. Under the terms of its contract with the Reception and Integration
Agency, the above company has undertaken to be responsible for the management,
catering, reception, cleaning, security and other such services considered
necessary to facilitate the day to day management of the centre.
HEALTH SERVICES
The Mid-Western Health Board is responsible for health matters in Knockalisheen.
The Mid Western Health Board premises are located in the
Administration Block.
They include:
2 Community Welfare Officers,
Administration office,
Medical room with en-suite toilet,
Clinical room,
Public Health Nurse room,
Health screening room,
Tea room
ADMINISTRATION BLOCK
The administration block is the central point for catering, dining, Health
Board services and administration matters in Knockalisheen. The building
is located at the front of the site and includes the following:
Commercial kitchen
Reception
Manager's office
Storerooms
Toilets / changing facilities
Art room (artist(s) in residence holds classes for residents and is
funded by the Office of Public Works)
Children's Room (includes TV and video)
Mother and child room
Recreation Room (includes TV, video, pool table, table tennis facilities)
Training room (includes PC ports)
Residents toilets with disabled access.
Laundry room
Health Board facilities
ACCOMMODATION BLOCKS
Knockalisheen accommodates a mix of single adults and family units.
Configuration: 32 family units (2 blocks of 80) (2 adult/3 child) = 160
216 single units (4 blocks of 54) = 216
Family blocks:
There are two Family blocks on-site with capacity of five persons in each
unit. These units are en-suite. There are two disabled access units on
the ground floor of each family block.
There is a common room with a kitchenette on each floor which includes
a fridge and microwave.
Singles Block:
There are four singles blocks with communal shower and toilet facilities.
These are three-person units. There is a common room with kitchenette
on each floor. The blocks are in dormitory style with WC and shower facilities
at the end of each corridor. There are 3 single person units on each floor
with shared bathroom facilities.
