Clare TD Violet Anne Wynne has said that Ireland’s “Dublin government has again failed rural communities” by sending too many IPAS applicants to “deprived” areas.
As Gript previously reported, the Department of Integration has confirmed that it will house up to 27 male asylum seekers in the Central BnB in the town.
The Independent TD said that Kilrush in particular “has welcomed more Ukrainians than Malahide with magnitudes less resources – something has to break.”
Wynne was elected as part of Sinn Féin in 2020 but became Independent in 2022.
Wynne said that a week on from the announcement of the new IPAS centre in Kilrush “the Government has refused to respond to multiple pleas for meetings, from both Deputy Wynne and Clare County Council.”
Deputy Wynne has been vocal in her critique of the government’s record for integration, criticising the original decision to move 30 IPAS applicants into Kilrush last year and advocating for the rights of those in Loop Head “being unfairly moved on”.
Wynne said that the government was effectively using rural communities as “guinea pigs”.
“Minister O’Gorman, like the majority of Ministers, is Dublin based. 9 of the 15 core Ministers are for constituencies less than an hour from Dublin – Minister O’Gorman’s constituency office is 6 minutes from Leinster House. This government, like those before and no doubt the next to come, treat rural Ireland like an afterthought.” she said.
Wynne’s office has said that last June, “Ennistymon had more Ukrainian refugees than North Inner City Dublin. Kilrush had more than Malahide.”
Pointing to a lack of resources in the area it said that, “Clare has half the dentists per 10,000 people as the national average” and has “87 practising GPs in the entire county” where “over 120” were needed “to meet the World Health Organisation minimum.”
Wynne says that Kilrush “is one of the most disadvantaged parts of our disadvantaged county – they cannot support the residents they currently have and are understandably frustrated that new vulnerable residents will be prioritised over those that are already waiting for essential services.” she said.
Speaking of the placement of international protection applicants in the area, she said. “To bring vulnerable people who have potentially suffered great trauma and dump them in Kilrush, would be hypocritical and unacceptable.”
She continued that the area cannot support the care they need “especially healthcare”, saying that it was “well known on the ground that the local services cannot support those already there.”
“On the one hand Government tell us, Clare is capable of receiving a disproportionate share of those in need, but on the other hand they are adamant that a thorough HIQA review is required to determine whether or not our region, the only region in the Country that is functioning with one model 4 hospital and no model 3 ED, will get what it deserves,” the Deputy added.
Speaking of the government’s actions in relation to the ongoing moving of IP applicants intot he area, Wynne said that she did “not support the Government’s mismanagement of the processing of asylum seekers, their refusal to address their comments around those arriving here without documentation.”
She said she also did not support the government’s “planning without preparation”, saying that such plans “are doomed to fail in a way that is dangerous to our communities and those they proclaim to help, both in the Department of Integration and across so many Government policies written for rural Ireland without any understanding of it.”
“Clare knows well the disastrous school transport scheme, the sudden change to bus routes making them unusable for commuters while at the same time overtaxing fuel, and demonising drivers. This government has no idea what it’s like to live outside of the Dublin bubble.” she said.
Speaking to Clare FM, the Minister for Integration, Roderic O’Gorman said that, “across Clare there’s been huge support for both Ukrainians and international protection applicants over the last two years, and Claire shouldered a huge part of our response to Ukraine”.
“I know because our numbers of Ukrainians are decreasing across the country, and they’ve decreased in Clare, I think about maybe,1,900 fewer Ukrainians living in accommodation in Clare now than there was at this time last year.”
“In terms of information, where we’re opening a new accommodation for international protection applicants..We provide information to elected reps, to TDS, to senators, to councillors.”
O’Gorman said his department “also engage with the local county council” to “provide them with information about new centres opening.”
“We have a community engagement team that provide that information and will respond to any questions.” he said.
In the email, seen by Gript, Wynne said, “There is a serious worry among locals that this centre will make already scarce local resources harder to access.”
“Residents are already travelling to Limerick for routine medical and dentist treatment due to an inability to be treated locally. Kilrush is the most socially deprived town in this county; it had 20% unemployment in 2022, the third highest in the country according to the CSO. I understand the necessity to find beds for residents of the IPAS system. However, Kilrush is already struggling to provide adequate services for existing residents, and I completely understand the apprehension of local residents.”
“The local community wish to meet with representatives of Minister O’Gorman and Clare County Council to discuss the issues this centre will cause and possible solutions. I would like to organise same with your assistance. I cannot state enough how important reasonable communication is in this situation. We all wish to prevent further escalation in the town of Kilrush.” she said.
Gript understands that the minister has not yet met with Deputy Wynne.
Wynne said the “frustration” among the community in Kilrush was caused by government failure” saying that they “must accept responsibility for the fear and anger that is tearing through our communities.”
She said she had “great respect in Roderic O’Gorman top-down actions – using emergency powers to have buildings made ready and statements he has made to get the job done – but he seems to forget about the foundations of the project, about speaking to the community and ensuring these centres have the resources they need to succeed.”
The Deputy concluded that O’Gorman “is supposed to be Minister for Integration, not Declaration – and so long as he continues wilfully ignoring local attempts to engage in constructive discussion, we will see the shadow of Coolock in every new IPAS centre.”