Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach already will have received an invitation to visit Dromahair to meet the local community regarding the decision to locate 155 IP applicants in the only hotel not just in Dromahair but in the whole of north Leitrim, despite the Government's new policy of not using the last hotel in any town. For context, pro rata, 155 applicants in Dromahair equates to about 77,000 in Dublin city.

In my one minute, I only have time to say that I believe there is an opportunity if there was real engagement with the community around numbers, service and resources. Dromahair could be a template for how we accommodate asylum seekers in villages. We are told there is consultation but we really know that communities are told what is happening and when it is happening and they have no input into any decision. Dromahair could be different, were the Taoiseach to meet local community representatives and elected representatives. I believe we could do better if we put the community at the centre of what we want to do.

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