Roundwood community is awaiting refugees’ arrival
The Road to Roundwood group is awaiting confirmation from the Department for Justice over when a refugee family fleeing war will be resettled into the community.
The voluntary group was set up by local people under the ‘Community Sponsorship Programme Ireland’, itself an initiative of the Department of Justice and Equality.
Officials from the Department were due to travel to Jordan and vet a suitable family of refugees for re- homing in Roundwood, most likely a Syrian family.
However, Covid-19 looks to have delayed those plans but it is unknown how much of a delay will be encountered by the group.
Loraine Crean of Road to Roundwood said: ‘ The Department of Justice were hoping to send some people out to refugee camps in Jordan in January so they could vet a suitable family, which we would then be allocated and who would come to live here in Roundwood.
‘ However, Covid has upset some of those plans and there may be a little delay. It looks like things are on hold until a little later.’
Once a family has been selected, the Road to Roundwood group will set about locating a suitable new home for Roundwood’s newest arrivals.
‘ Our appeal for suitable homes is still out there,’ confirmed Loraine.
‘ The location is key. Obviously houses outside the village are a little cheaper, but then you will have to organise a car for travel. There’s a fine balance between the cost of rent and the potential cost of travel.
‘ Two families were welcomed by community groups in Dublin before Christmas. Both of those families had medical needs and homes were found for them near hospitals, which I thought was brilliant.’
The volunteers associated with Road to Roundwood have also been gladdened by the amount of local support they have received, including the contribution of donations and the backing of previously held fundraising events.
‘ We have received great support and the local community have been wonderful. We received more than we ever expected.
‘ One of our members is also from Wexford and a similar group has now been set up there too. I think campaigns like ours are spreading to other parts of the county, which is wonderful to see,’ said Loraine.