The Department of Justice has dismissed claims of a poor standard of food
being served at a Monaghan Direct Provision Centre.
A post on social media in recent days, claiming to be from a pregnant
resident at the M Hotel in Maghercloone, showed a meal consisting of two
bread rolls and tomato sauce.
The M Hotel is among a number of hotels and B&Bs being used by the
Department of Justice as emergency accommodation due to capacity issues in
the direct provision system.
The image was shared on the "Say No to Direct Provision in Ireland" page on
Facebook and subsequently on other sites such as Twitter.
The caption said people in the centre are not allowed to cook and this is
the lunch they're provided with everyday.
A Department of Justice spokesperson said they don't comment on anonymous
social media posts, but they have checked with management at the hotel who
confirmed a selection of four meals is available every day.
It's the second time in a month that posts have been shared online with
claims about conditions within local centres.
Northern Sound News also understands there are concerns about
the "recycling" of such images on social media, claiming to be from inside
multiple Direct Provision centres at different times.
