Department of Integration officials are to meet with a group of people protesting outside new accommodation for international Protection applicants in Co Cavan today. The protest, ongoing since Friday, has been taking place outside renovated stables in Castletara which is set to accommodate the asylum seekers.
Speaking to Shannonside Northern Sound, Deputy Niamh Smyth said residents are concerned about the rural nature of the area and the subsequent ability of those seeking international protection to access services including heath, medical and integration.
She highlighted that the lack of information on the exact purpose of the stables and who is being accommodated there is causing great "worry" to locals. Deputy Smyth added that Cavan is a place of one thousands welcomes for people seeking asylum and it's the lack of information around this particular matter that has caused hurt and upset to residents.
"I made that point, very robustly, to the Department official I spoke to on Friday," she continued. "I did say that it was important for the officials to listen to the community's concerns, be able to answer those concerns and more importantly, to engage with people from the area.
The information I got yesterday, was that two officials would be coming out today. This goes back to the flow of information and how key that is."
