‘Necessary supports’ will be put in place for refugees - Minister
The Minister for Rural Affairs and Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, has said that “necessary supports” will be put in place should any refugees need to be accommodated in Cootehill.
She made the remarks while visiting the town this week to launch enhanced payments under the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance at Lennon’s Drapers (see page 13).
The minister was asked about concerns raised by some members of the community in reaction to unconfirmed reports about refugees being accommodated in the property formerly known as the White Horse Hotel - though the Department of Integration has said the hotel is being considered for ‘those fleeing the war in Ukraine’.
“I can assure you that the necessary supports will be put in place,” said Minister Humphreys, though the programme does not fall under her Department’s direct remit.
Responding specifically to fears about the possibility of “undocumented” or “unvetted” migrants coming to the area, the Cavan Monaghan Government TD said: “There has been a lot of misinformation out there, but you have to remember a lot of people coming to this country are coming from very, very, very difficult situations.
“What we’re trying to do is assist them. That’s what we’ll continue to do as a government.”
She urged people to look at what many refugees had contributed to the communities where they had settled.
“As far as this country is concerned, we’ve taken a lot of Ukrainians who are contributing to our economy.
“I think there’s something in the region of fourteen or fifteen thousand Ukrainians actually who have taken up work,” said Minister Humphreys.
She said they deserve our support.
“There’s a lot of mothers, a lot of children who have come here, who have left a war-torn country.
“You only have to look at the images on the television to see what they have come from and they need our support at this point in time and I think it’s important that we give them that support.”
Minister Humphreys was confident that the people of Cootehill would provide a warm welcome to any refugees who might arrive.
“I know this town very well and I know that if there are Ukrainian mothers and children and the like coming here that they will get a welcome.”
“That’s what we want to do, we are people who have always opened our arms and provided support when people needed it,” she said.
“The same welcome often was extended to Irish people who needed to emigrate many years ago for all sorts of different reasons.”
Asked to respond to claims that she had ignored a group called the Concerned Citizens of Cootehill, Minister Humphreys replied: “I’m not going to get into that at all.
“The group have their views and I have my views. I’ve made them very clear.”
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