PLANS to accommodate refugees seeking International Protection (IP) in a former nursing home in a West Limerick village have been brought to a close after it was confirmed that no IP applicants are to be housed in the village.
Plans to house protection applicants in a former nursing home in Tournafulla had been paused after a public meeting took place in August, which saw locals raise concerns about the rural village’s suitability for such an IP centre.
More than 250 people from the village and surrounds attended the public meeting, with residents citing concerns around transport, health, and education services and infrastructure for potential new arrivals, saying that services in the area are already stretched.
Now, Fianna Fáil TD and Minister of State Niall Collins has confirmed that the former Cashington Lodge nursing home in Tournafulla is not set to accommodate refugees fleeing persecution and violence in their home countries.
“I can confirm that a decision has been taken not to proceed to accommodate international protection applicants in Tournafulla,” Minister Collins told this newspaper.
“This has been a cause of concern among the local community due to the closure of the local community shop and the lack of local services available to help with any potential new arrivals into the community,” the Patrickswell native added.
The former nursing home will now be explored for its potential community use, it is understood.
Following the announcement, Limerick Minister for Further and Higher Education Patrick O’Donovan said that he will “continue to work positively with the community on the continued development of infrastructure and amenities in the area” and that he wanted to “note the decision of the Department of Children and Integration that they are not proceeding with the proposed use of the former nursing home in Tournafulla”.
