The proposal to convert student accommodation in Sligo into housing for refugees has been reversed by the Government.
In June of this year, the owners of Benbulben Court and Milligan Court - two Sligo properties used as student and summer tourism accommodation - announced plans to use the properties to house refugees.
Benbulben Court had been purpose-built to house students attending the nearby university.
The development had received planning permission on the basis it would be used for students.
The announcement resulted in a wave of backlash from local TDS and an urgent meeting of Government officials.
Today, Government reversed the decision to convert the housing into accommodation for asylum seekers.
The Department of Integration, headed by Minister Roderic O’Gorman, had not signed any contracts, and the decision would have left between 400 and 500 students without a place to live.
The outgoing ATU Sligo Students Union President, Daire Martin, says the decision is welcome news.
"The decision by the Government to return the student accommodation to the displaced students has absolutely provided a moment of relief – both to myself, who worked and tried my best to fight for our members and also for the students who were displaced themselves," he said.
