LATEST: Tipperary SF representative raises concerns over move to house refugees in hotel

Sinn Féin local election candidate for the Roscrea Templemore LEA Breandán Ó Conchúir has written to the Minister for Integration, Roderic O'Connor, to express his concern over the recent decision to house asylum seekers in Racket Hall Hotel, Roscrea, and asked what increased funding has been made available to ensure local services can meet the needs of both locals and those being kept in the hotels.

"This is yet another example of the failed asylum policy of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and the Greens, who are continuing to house asylum seekers in privately owned and ran direct provision centres whose owners make substantial profits from the state. Sinn Féin has always opposed this system and continue to do so’

"Less than a year on from the decision to house Ukrainians in the old convent, yet it appears the Government has learned nothing from that experience and once again is making decisions without informing locals or ensuring services are in place

"I raised these concerns around the unsuitability of direct provision, the need for improved services, and community engagement with the Minister back in May in relation to the Convent and none of these concerns have been addressed. It simply isn’t good enough from the Government.

"Roscrea has welcomed people from all over the world into their community over the years. The last census showed 17% of the population of Roscrea was from non-Irish ethnic backgrounds, these people live and work locally and have by and large integrated into the community. However you cannot have integration without honesty, and it is clear the Government is not interested in honesty.

"I also would have concerns as to the change of the Racket Hall from a hotel to a direct provision centre. It is the only hotel in the town and any effort to develop tourism in the area will suffer if we do not have accommodation. And, of course, the hotel is almost 3km from the town along a road without a footpath. We’ve already seen in Dundrum in the south of the county where Ukrainians are being accommodated in a similar situation the council has refused to install a footpath.

"Once again we are seeing a lack of planning and a lack of communication from the government. communities deserve better," he said.