Varadkar: Special package for towns that have taken in the most asylum seekers

Reacting to a demonstration outside a hotel in Roscrea, Co Tipperary, Leo Varadkar said people have the right to protest in any democracy. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

A special package for the 10 areas that have taken in the highest numbers of Ukrainians and asylum seekers is to be put in place to support communities, the Taoiseach has said.

Leo Varadkar has said further resources, including school places, increased gardaí and healthcare provisions will be allocated to towns and villages that have seen a large increase in population due to accommodating those seeking refuge.

Speaking ahead of a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Mr Varadkar said he would be "asking all ministers to come together to take the 10 districts in the country that have the highest proportion of people from Ukraine and people seeking international protection and to put together a special package to help those areas that are under pressure".

He added: "We have done that to a certain extent already with the Community Recognition Fund but I think we need to do more to help out, to increase resources around health, around education, around policing, and to respond to the genuine concerns that people have when there is a large increase in the population."

Reacting to a demonstration outside a hotel in Roscrea, Co Tipperary, Mr Varadkar said people have the right to protest in any democracy.

However, he said nobody has the right to engage in violence against other individuals or to damage property and some of the actions seen this week were "anti-democrat" and "anti-freedom".

"I understand that hundreds of people have been accommodated in Roscrea in the last number of years, both from Ukraine and people seeking international protection, that has put the town under pressure and I can understand the frustrations that everyday people feel and some of the public reps feel there as well."