Tourists visiting 'affluent' Clonakilty don't see the 'poverty and social issues', says councillor

Social Democrats councillor Isobel Towse has called for a family resource centre for the town to provide support to its 'disadvantaged' residents

Councillors told it was 'shocking' Clonakilty did not have a family resource centre. File picture: Denis Scannell

A councillor has called for the provision of a family resource centre in the growing town of Clonakilty in West Cork. 

Speaking at the recent meeting of Cork County Council’s West Cork Municipal District, Social Democrats councillor Isobel Towse said it was “shocking” Clonakilty did not have such a resource.

In a motion proposed at the meeting Ms Towse asked: “That the West Cork Municipal District will write to Tusla and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality asking they fund the provision of a family resource centre for Clonakilty.” 

She said: “Plain and simple, Clonakilty needs a family resource centre and it’s shocking that it doesn’t have one. There is a family resource centre in Dunmanway, Skibbereen, Bandon, two in Beara, but none in Clonakilty. Clon has at least double the population of all these areas, bar Bandon.” 

Ms Towse said Clonakilty was often regarded as “affluent and privileged,” and “perhaps that's to it's detriment, because there’s no doubt that is there and it's all very nice for attracting tourism, but what people on the outside don’t see is the poverty and social issues and the lack of services to address these, leaving families struggling alone". 

She said as a councillor who had knocked on every single door in the town multiple times, she saw struggling families firsthand. She said speaking with organisations in the town that deal with social issues and social work, made it clear there was a major gap in the provision of supports for families and children in the area.

“We need a family resource centre that Tusla can work out of, somewhere with an open door that families can walk straight into. A place that’s not clinical, where there’s other activities going on, where they can also find community and support. A family resource centre.” 

She added: “The department simply needs to meet the needs of Clonakilty. We now have a homeless shelter for families, a direct provision centre, and 20% of all housing estates are social housing, on top of the new social housing estates that have gone up recently. 

"Vulnerable, disadvantaged, and marginalised families need support. They deserve better.” 

Replying for the council, Municipal District officer Eimear O’Neill said with the members agreement, letters would be sent to Tusla and the Department of Children.

This article is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme