Residents Of Midlands Village Cry Foul Over State Communication On Refugee Accommodation

Thursday, 23 November 2023 at 06:46

The group say they've been waiting weeks for a response from the government.

A local group says it's been waiting three weeks for information from the State in relation to proposals to accommodate refugees in a midlands village.

Plans are in place to move 98 International Protection Applicants into Coole in Westmeath, which the Coole Concerns group says would increase its population by nearly 50%.

The group met with a Community Engagement Team, representing the Department of Integration earlier this month, where it was given the opportunity to raise concerns and ask questions.

Among those was asking for a reduction in the number of refugees due to be moved in, direct contact details for someone from the Department in case of any issues, and what the Department will do to assist infrastructure in the village.

The group says it's worried the services in Coole won't be able to handle the influx of International Protection Applicants.

It says it's received very little contact from the State since that meeting on November 2nd, despite sending a number of follow-up emails, and it's still waiting for answers to the questions asked.