Government ‘failing towns that welcomed refugees’

< PAUL HEALY

In the wake of recent protests in Dublin and Clare, Sinn Féin TD Claire Kerrane has accused the Government of failing rural towns that are welcoming refugees, such as Ballaghaderreen.

“There has been a lot of talk of protests… yet, if you look at the towns that did not protest, where refugees arrived without such scenes, look at how those towns have been treated by Government,” Kerrane told the Dáil.

Pointing out that Ballaghaderreen was one of the few towns to welcome Syrian refugees back in 2017, the TD said this generosity had not been matched by Government action. “In fact the town has seen nothing in additional resources and services” she said, pointing to a lack of inter-Departmental cooperation at Government level.

“Look at education in Ballaghaderreen… the town school has been approved for funding for a new-build, but are waiting now for a decision on design. Look at health: GPs are under huge pressure. You (the Government) can instruct the HSE to put additional health resources in place, use the local Health Centre, and contract in a nurse. These are the measures that are needed and they can be done.

“Rural towns like Ballaghaderreen have been let down hugely by Government,” she said. “I am again calling on Government to look at towns like Ballaghaderreen from a Department by Department basis and put in the resources”.