Rosslare protest against plans to house refugees

A convoy of cars will drive slowly to the entrance of Rosslare Europort, Co Wexford, as part of the protest.

A protest will be held at the entrance to Rosslare Harbour later today over plans to house more asylum seekers and refugees in the Wexford village.

A convoy of cars will drive slowly to the port entrance from an area two minutes’ drive away known as Kilrane.

Locals say they are annoyed that up to 420 more refugees are scheduled to be housed by next May in an old hotel, which is currently being renovated.

This will add to the 350 refugees already living in the village.

Some arrived before the war in Ukraine, around 300 arrived after war broke out, and more have arrived since.

Locals say they have done their bit to help refugees and they do not want another direct provision centre to be opened in the former Great Southern Hotel.

“Enough is enough,” said Wexford County Council vice-chairman and Independent councillor Ger Carthy.

“We have done a lot to help refugees for years.

But to find that more are coming is just something we have to object to because resources for the population that are here no longer exist.

“There is no primary care centre, there are no more school places, access to local GP services is already at breaking point, and people just can’t take it anymore.

“What has not made this any easier is the fact that local residents have had little to no real engagement with the Government ministers, regardless of what they say.”

At the moment, refugees are housed in the old Euro Lodge Hotel, Hotel Rosslare, and the Dock Hotel as well as in three houses in the village and a bed and breakfast.

The west wing of the Great Southern Hotel, which was originally given planning permission for a nursing home, is near completion, and some 170 refugees will be housed there.

The remaining 250 refugees will arrive when the rest of the hotel is finished around May next year.

Meanwhile, a march is due to take place in Killarney against the placement of 70 refugees in a former hotel in the town. This follows a public meeting earlier this week.