Donegal TD Thomas Pringle says proper investment is necessary for local services in Moville for the benefit of the local community and incoming refugees.
The call was made at a public meeting regarding the arrival of 100 refugees at a direct provision centre opening up at Caiseal Mara Hotel in Moville in the next coming weeks.
The meeting saw over 300 people in attendance.
Deputy Pringle said support at the meeting and the community spirit of hospitality sends a clear message that Moville is ready to ‘step up and support refugees coming in’.
A number of concerns were raised regarding the arrival of 100 asylum seekers to the town and a lack of government support, according to Mr Pringle.
Deputy Thomas Pringle at the community meeting in Moville, 16th November 2018
Deputy Pringle said: “how the state will manage the needs of the community was something that was raised as well as anger at the Government and political parties who make decisions without input from the local community.
“Concerns regarding the provision of public services to the community and to the refugees were also raised. Moville has experienced a chronic lack of investment by the state over the past number of decades and GP, Garda and post office numbers are continuing to decline all over Donegal.
“Proper investment will be required to reverse this trend so that both the community of Moville and the new community members coming in the next few weeks can benefit.
“Despite genuine concerns and the lack of Government support the overwhelmingly positive response from Moville residents community has left me satisfied that the new residents coming into Donegal who have experienced great hardship and difficulty will find a welcoming community at Moville” says Pringle.
He added: “I will continue to monitor the situation and hope the Government takes on board the fears of the community by putting real supports in place not just for the new centre but for the wider Moville community as well.”
Tags: