Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I listened carefully to the Minister's speech and, unfortunately, she never once mentioned the Government's responsibility to provide additional practical supports and services to communities where populations have increased due to new arrivals. The first thing that most people in these communities will tell you is that the existing services and supports are already under pressure. They will almost always mention the local GP. As I have repeatedly said, the frustration and tension this causes in communities would be easily avoided if each Department did its bit. We are putting 100 refugees into Ballaghaderreen. What do they need? The two GPs are running waiting lists. Can we put a contract nurse into the health centre that is sitting there? Can we share that resource with Boyle, which now has nearly 300 refugees and is also under pressure? Can we do something? Can the HSE do anything to support these communities? I cannot understand why we allow this to build up. It is deliberate because I have raised it repeatedly and nothing has changed. The Tánaiste told me last week that he would provide a list of where medical resources have been put in place. I am still waiting for that list because it has not been provided.

My hometown is Ballaghaderreen. We have been receiving refugees since 2017 and have nothing to show for it. Unlike in some places, these refugees were welcomed. That was it. There was nothing else. There were no additional resources or practical supports. For people - they are not in Ballaghaderreen - in areas where new arrivals are not wanted, this hands them the perfect excuse on a plate. They will say they do not have the resources or supports and cannot manage. In an awful lot of cases, that can be dealt with by Government, Department by Department. I refer particularly to the Departments of Health and Education. It is not happening, however.

I welcome the community recognition fund. It is a good initiative but it is for sports clubs and local organisations. It does not provide the practical supports and services that are needed. In the case of Ballaghaderreen, funding for a new childcare facility was announced four or five years ago. That funding has recently been pulled. This is the most economically and socially poor town in County Roscommon but it has done more than its bit. Again, this funding has recently been pulled so it has nothing to show for that.

Before I conclude, I will note that I see an issue. If it begins to grow, we are going to have more tension and more frustration. People are buying up buildings, particularly in rural communities where there are not sufficient supports and services, and making a ton of money. Frankly, they could not care less about the community. That is going to become a big issue if it continues to grow and if more and more buildings are used for this purpose without supports and services being provided by Government. I again ask the Government to do its bit, Department by Department. It should avoid this tension and frustration by providing supports to these communities.

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