Two Fine Gael candidates hit out at handling of Athlone asylum centre plan

Two Fine Gael general election candidates have this week issued statements criticising the Government's handling of its plan to establish temporary accommodation for 1,000 male asylum seekers at a site in Lissywollen, Athlone.

This comes amid a continuing protest at the entrance to the site in Lissywollen, where a significant Garda presence has been in attendance this week.

On Friday last, a protest was also held involving parents of children attending the nearby Cornamaddy Community National School, with a number of parents deciding not to send their children to school for the day.

On Monday, Fine Gael's Athlone-based candidate, Tanya Cannon, circulated a letter she had written to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O'Gorman, calling for the project to be reviewed.

The development in Lissywollen is scheduled to accommodate 100 male international protection applicants, or asylum seekers, at first, with this number then rising over time to 1,000.

In her letter to the Minister, Ms Cannon said she had been listening to "genuine questions" from local people with concerns about the impact the new accommodation facility could have on the town.

"I have received phone calls and messages from local people who are really worried about the impact on our local services, with such a huge increase in population in such a short time," she wrote.

"Minister, I am asking you to review this situation. There has been no engagement at all with the public in Athlone, which of course only leads to the vacuum being filled with rumour and gossip. The Government must do better."

She stated that Athlone had "a proud history of welcoming individuals from diverse backgrounds," and that fostering an inclusive environment was important.

"However, it is equally important that we address the real concerns of residents, ensuring that any developments are managed effectively and transparently," added Ms Cannon.

She concluded her letter by asking the outgoing Minister to "find a balanced solution that respects both the needs of our community and the rights of asylum seekers".

Her party colleague, and fellow Longford Westmeath constituency candidate, Senator Micheál Carrigy, said the way in which public representatives were informed of the Athlone development left a lot to be desired.

"In recent weeks, we were informed that up to 1,000 international protection applicants would be housed in Athlone," he stated.

"This notification came at 3pm on a Monday while public representatives were in our constituencies, with a meeting scheduled for the following morning in Dublin. This is not how we should conduct business."

The Fine Gael Senator said Athlone was "already facing significant challenges," including traffic congestion, limited access to sporting facilities, and difficulties for residents trying to secure GP places.

"We need to engage and consult with public representatives, the local community, and organisations on the ground," he said.

"While there is a clear need to provide shelter and support for those seeking international protection, it is essential that we ensure the necessary facilities and infrastructure are in place in the chosen areas,” he said.

At Cornamaddy Community National School, a day of protest action took place on Friday.

This resulted in over three-quarters of the school's pupils being kept at home for the day, according to the parents' association treasurer, Dearbhla Gayson.

"We had about 30 to 40 pupils in the school on Friday last," said Ms Gayson, who explained that the parents' association had decided to proceed with their protest action having received "no satisfactory answers" when they met with Community Engagement Team from the Department of Integration last week.

"We were basically told that the Department are going ahead with their plans for Lissywollen, and that the first 100 men are due to arrive in the next couple of weeks," said Dearbhla. "The only thing that members of the team said they could do for us was bring our concerns back to the Minister."

The Cornamaddy parents' association representative was keen to stress that the school is "very much a multi-cultural environment" and that parents from "across all cultural levels" had supported last Friday's protest action and kept their children at home from school.

Ms Gayson said she would not "rule out further protests" in the future, and confirmed that the parents' association at Cornamaddy school is currently trying to "reach agreement with parents" on what form that protest action may take.

"Down the road we would be looking at taking our protest to Dublin to the office of the new Minister for Integration," she said.

Councillors from the Athlone Moate Municipal District recently made an order under Section 31 of the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Act 1948 which sought to halt the development of the new accommodation.

When contacted this week, a spokesperson for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth said it had "noted" the decision by the councillors to make this order.

However, the spokesperson added: "There are further procedural steps and timelines outlined within the legislation that will apply before the Order comes into effect."

Athlone-area councillors also indicated last week that they would be seeking independent legal advice on the possibility of taking out an injunction to halt the work on site.