COUNCILLORS MEET WITH DEPARTMENT OVER DIRECT PROVISION CENTRE

LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES RAISE CONCERNS OVER INFRASTRUCTURE IN ROSSLARE HARBOUR

REPRESENTATIVES of the Department of Justice listened attentively to some of the concerns expressed by the elected members of the Rosslare Municipal District last week after the news broke that a contract had been signed for the establishment of a Direct Provision Centre at the old Rosslare Port Lodge Hotel in Rosslare Harbour.

The new accommodation will provide accommodation for approximately 100 asylum seekers, some 50 of whom will be moved across from a temporary setup at Hotel Rosslare where they have been based for some months. That particular move is due to happen by the end of the month, while fifty more ‘internal protection applicants’ will join them on a phased basis in the following weeks.

Representatives from the Department of Justice and Equality were joined by those from the HSE, the Department of Education and Codelix Ltd, the company that will operate the centre, in a bid to allay any fears that the councillors may have had.

The meeting got off to a somewhat tense start as Chairman of the Rosslare Municipal District Ger Carthy branded the manner in which the department went about the move as ‘an attack on the democratic process’ as they had failed to inform elected representatives.

‘It turned into a long protracted meeting that went on for nearly three hours,’ Cllr Carthy said. ‘We spoke about the lack of services and infrastructure locally and they said that they would certainly support the endeavours of the local authority and will seek to have the appropriate services in place for the residents of the centre straight away.’

While all of the members were delighted that the move to the Rosslare Port Lodge would result in a massive improvement in circumstances for the asylum seekers who are currently resident at Hotel Rosslare, they also expressed concern regarding the increase in numbers from 50 to 100 and sought assurances that this would not be increased any further. In reply, officials from the Department of Justice and Equality assured the Members that the Department has no interest in procuring any additional accommodation for international protection applicants within the Rosslare area and that the number would be limited to 100.

Cllr Carthy said that a total of 10 jobs would be created with security and centre staff etc and that there would be certain boosts for the local economy. However, one aspect that he and the rest of the councillors have concerns over is access to education for any children who take up residence at the centre.

Principal of Kilrane NS Eoin

O’Donnagáin said that the Department of Education would have to advise, however, it was unclear what the make-up of the asylum seekers would be and whether any children would require places in local schools.

‘The official line of the school is that any children in the district looking for an education, regardless of their background or where they are from are welcome at Kilrane National School,’ he said.

Mr O’Donnagáin continued that an influx of children would require an increase in resources, which he had no doubt that the department would provide.

‘We are building again here at the moment,’ he said.

‘We’re about to go to planning stage on what is our sixth extension in ten years. The government are very good to the school and I’m sure if we had ten new kids starting here with no English, the department would provide the resources to help with that.’

Meanwhile, while some have expressed concerns, the decision to establish the Direct Provision Centre at Rosslare Port Lodge for the most part seems to accepted by locals.

‘The people of Rosslare Harbour and Kilrane have already been commended for facilitating a number of asylum seekers at Hotel Rosslare over the past year and a half,’ said Cllr Carthy. ‘I’m sure that will continue as we develop into a more multi-cultural community.’