The delicate issue of housing asylum-seekers without consultation with local representatives has arisen again in the Midlands. The Directorate for Asylum Support Services confirmed this week it had been in contact with the Midland Health Board with a view to leasing three to five acres of land beside Portlaoise General Hospital.
It had plans to accommodate over 400 asylum-seekers in the grounds of St Fintan's Hospital, on the outskirts of town.
The news that the health board and the directorate had been planning a possible site for asylum-seekers in Portlaoise has angered both the local TDs. Mr Charles Flanagan said the plan was being mooted without consulting the local representatives, a view shared by Fianna Fail's Mr John Moloney.
Mr Moloney, who is a member of the Midland Health Board, said that over the years the Laois members of the board had maintained that the hospital lands were zoned as recreational and amenity lands.
"In case we are accused of being racist, we have maintained that position even when approached by private developers interested in building houses there in the past" he said. The lands should be for the people of Portlaoise and surrounding areas for recreation, he added.
Both men told the Leinster Ex- press they were disappointed with the way the issue had been handled and Mr Flanagan said the Department of Justice had agreed with him recently that local TDs should be kept informed of such developments.
Earlier this year the Department of Justice was severely criticised when it became known that 400 asylum-seekers were to be accommodated on Department of Education lands outside the town.
The Travelling Community also objected to the size of the development, which is beside a halting site they use. They were upset that their housing needs could not be met while the Government was able to put 100 new mobile homes on an adjoining site.
That issue was resolved following discussions between the Travellers and Westmeath County Council and the centre is now almost fully occupied by asylum-seekers.
Earlier this week gardai from Mullingar were called to the Mullingar centre at Lismullan following a disturbance between two Romanian families. There were no injuries or arrests.