Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the issue of the co-ordination of Ukrainian refugees in County Clare. For the last 18 months, 21 refugees have been located in Loop Head. Loop Head, by the admission of Clare County Council, is a community in terminal population decline. It has seen 21 individuals being integrated into that very peripheral community, six of whom are children in school and four are pensioners. There are 11 others, of whom two have work. Others are studying English lessons in Kilrush. All involved are deeply upset by the letter of notice they received. The owner of the bed and breakfast accommodation has invested a huge amount of money to ensure the building is compliant. We have also seen the same situation unfold in Shannon. The key criticisms are the communication methods, the lack of notice and the information as to where they are being relocated. There is another point, in that they are being relocated into communities such as Lisdoonvarna in north Clare, which has already seen its population increase exponentially; it has tripled in the past 18 months. There are concerns coming from north Clare but then there are also concerns coming from Loop Head. Loop Head wants to keep these people there. They have been a huge positive attribute to the community, which has seen a lot of funding coming their way.

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