Community highlights lack of communication over refugees’ arrival in Cloonfad

Up to sixty local people attended a public meeting on Friday evening in Cloonfad to raise their concerns over what they believe is a lack of communication regarding plans to house Ukrainian refugees in a former nursing home in the West Roscommon village.

The meeting was held in the local community centre to discuss proposals by a company to provide accommodation to Ukrainians in the former nursing home building.

Chairman of the meeting, Independent councillor Nigel Dineen told the gathering that up to last Friday, no-one had moved into the nursing home and there was still no information on who was arriving, whether it was women, children or other people.

“The biggest problem is communication.

“We need communication from the Minister and all we want to know is what is exactly happening. As of today, we are no further on,” Cllr Dineen said.

During the meeting, issues such as the number of people, the type of accommodation being offered, and increased pressures on local services were raised by local people. One person said that Ukrainian people fleeing war needed to be welcomed.

Correspondence from the office of Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman was read out at the meeting, confirming that the former nursing home would provide accommodation to “vulnerable people” from Ukraine.

Cllr Dineen replied to queries from the floor that he was waiting for clarification from the Department as to who exactly would comprise these vulnerable people.

A letter written by the principal of Cloonfad National School was also read out by Cllr Dineen at the meeting. In the letter, the principal said that the school had capacity for any children taking up residence in the village and every effort would be made to facilitate them.

A committee has now been set up to formulate a set of questions in order to seek further information from the operator of the centre and Minister O’Gorman’s department.

Before last Friday’s meeting started, Cllr Dineen read from a written note on behalf of the community. It said that local people wanted the best for the village so everyone’s opinions at the meeting had to be respected.

The note pointed out that racist comments would not be tolerated during the discussion and anyone who made any would be asked to leave the meeting.

Local people’s concerns were not about women and children arriving but the number of people coming into the village, the note stated.

The meeting was informed that the operator had held a recent open day for local people at the former nursing home, which can cater for up to 60 people.

The other public representative present on Friday night was Fianna Fáil councillor Paschal Fitzmaurice.