Call for cap on on refugee numbers

A cap must be imposed on the number of  asylum seekers coming to Borrisokane as a town of its size will be unable to cope with the current numbers due to be relocated there, Independent TD Michael Lowry has stated.

Mr Lowry was commenting to this newspaper as he prepared to meet the Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan to ask him to reduce the numbers of refugees being relocated to a direct provision centre in the town.

Said Mr Lowry: “The people of Borrisokane have been very open, generous and Christian in their approach to the relocation of asylum seekers to the town. Many people who have spoken privately to me on the issue are welcoming of immigrants, but they say the numbers coming must take into account the size and capacity of the town,” said Mr Lowry.

He said the general view he was hearing on the ground was that the proposal to locate over 80 asylum seekers to a town with a population of 800 would impact severely on the ability of services within Borrisokane to cope with such numbers.
Mr Lowry said he would be calling on the minister to review and impose a cap on the numbers of asylum seekers. “The proposed number is disproportionate to the size of the town and must be adjusted.”
He added: “The local community has been very generous in its response, but what I am worried about is that there will be conflict if the department does not reduce the numbers of asylum seekers. Local people are concerned that relocating over 80 people there will overwhelm the town.”

 

One man who spoke from the floor said the problem for locals was a fear of the unknown. The Minister of State for Justice with special responsibility for Equality, David Staunton was introducing refugees to the town under a haze of secrecy. It was a basic right for locals to know who was being brought into the town.
The man said Borrisokane had previouly welcomed people into the town from all over Europe. When locals knew who exactly were now coming to the town that is when they would be welcome.
Another man, who said he had travelled from East Galway to attend the meeting, urged those present to do "an Oughterard" on the it.

Justin Barrett, a member of the National Party who grew up in Borrisokane, said every other area where a direct provision centre was opened in the State resulted in increased crime, drugs and vandalism.
Speaking later, Councillor O' Meara described the meeting as "extremely robust". Strong views had been expressed by those for and against the accommodation of the asylum seekers.
He said a local committee would be formed, and he hoped that it would result in better communication between the department and the community going forward.

Councillor O' Meara said local representatives like him had to help the asylum seekers, but they also had to represent the people who elected them to office. Councillor O' Meara said a major concern was that the entire issues would be hijacked by extremists from outside the Borrisokane area.

He said he got no feeling from the tone of the meeting that the community should mount a protest over the arrival of the asylum seekers. However, if local did wish to mount a protest then he would have to be on the side of his local community who elected him to office. "But I think a protest for protest sake would not be beneficial."
He felt the best approach was for the community to communicate its fears to the department.
A local woman, Margaret Donnolly, told Tipp FM that locals did have real fears, but said genuine asylum seekers were fleeing hellish situations in their native countries. If there was anger over the way the issue had been managed it should be directed at the Department of Justice.
In addition to Councillor O' Meara, the meeting was also attended by the four councillors in the Nenagh electoral area: the Cathaoirleach, Joe Hannigan, Ger Darcy, Hughie McGrath and Seamus Morris.

 

DEPARTMENT STATEMENT
On Friday last the department issued the following statement in response to the public meeting the previous night: 
Representatives of the Department of Justice and Equality, the HSE and the Department of Education and Skills met with local councillors yesterday to discuss the new Borrisokane Accommodation Centre. The Department found the meeting constructive and welcomed the opportunity suggested by councillors to meet with a committee of local representatives as soon as possible to discuss and allay any of their concerns, as we begin to bring families into the centre.
A great deal of work is underway to identify and address any questions the community may have regarding the opening of the Borrisokane Accommodation Centre and the availability of services. 
To outline the supports available the department has today written to residents in the Borrisokane area and developed a public information website specifically for the new centre (www.BorrisokaneAccommodationCentre.ie).
Representatives from both the HSE and the Department of Education have been liaising with schools and local doctors about how best to provide the necessary supports.
The children of school-going age living in the centre will attend mainstream primary or secondary schools. The Department of Education and Skills (DES) working with Tusla’s Educational Welfare Service is engaging with local schools. A DES representative is available to advise schools on specific queries arising, including on the range of supports available to schools and on how to access supports. In order to ensure additional provision is made to schools without delay, schools who are enrolling children from accommodation centres will be invited by DES to apply for these supports in advance of the children beginning school.
If school transport is required for the children, this is provided under the School Transport Scheme.
Adult residents will be linked in with English language classes run by the local Education and Training Board.
Families will have access to all local health services. Families will have access to GP services through the GMS (medical card) and arrangements will be made locally by the HSE. The Department of Health and the HSE are working closely with the Department of Justice and Equality to ensure the delivery of services in the area.
The Department of Justice and Equality will cover travel costs for any family that has to travel to access health services.
The HSE will keep under review the provision of local health resources in light of the arrival of the new families in the community.
 Centre management will provide transport for residents.