The majority of residents at a direct provision centre are understood to have refused meals in recent days in a protest action over the standard of food. Residents of Ashbourne House in Glounthane near Cork City have also written a letter to Children's Minister Roderic O'Gorman, about the situation, which they described as "sad" and was affecting residents "emotionally, psychologically, mentally and otherwise". The centre is home to a number of families and it's understood almost 100 residents are currently living there. It's understood the majority of residents have not now taken meals at the centre on Monday and Tuesday this week and that this is likely to continue. The letter requests a timeframe for additional cooking facilities and for the introduction of a new points-based system for obtaining food.

Source: Irish Examiner February 17, 2021 07:00 UTC