Gabrielle McFadden (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I rise to talk about the subject of Syrian refugees. The United Nations said this morning that the al-Assad regime, with the support of the Russians, is responsible for the complete meltdown of humanity. They are executing civilians and rebels and going from door to door to do this. The Irish Government needs to do what it can to put immediate pressure on the regime to allow a proper ceasefire, not the ceasefire that was supposed to have occurred last night. This would allow people to get out.

This leads to my next point, about which I feel very strongly. Refugees coming to this country need to be housed. Documentation on the Government's Irish refugee protection programme states that in Westmeath, for example, there will be up to 30 families resettled in the new year. The families will be split between Mullingar and Athlone. I welcome this although we are under severe pressure owing to our own housing crisis. I welcome the fact that there will be 30 families coming to Westmeath to be resettled. However, I am concerned about where they will be settled. Westmeath County Council has responsibility to house the families but there are already 2,200 people on the housing list. Therefore, it is a big job for the council. I am concerned about where the people will be housed.

The Minister responsible, be it the Minister for Justice and Equality, who has responsibility for bringing the refugees in, or the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, needs to come to the Chamber to hear how Senators believe people should be housed. Columb Barracks in Mullingar might be considered. It was looked at but I do not know whether this will happen. There is an asylum unit in Athlone where families have been living for over ten years in mobile homes. Circumstances have improved in the centre over recent years but the centre is not appropriate for families considering what they have been through. This is an important issue that Senators should debate with the relevant Minister. I ask the Leader to do what he can to bring in the Minister.