Opposition is growing in the Co Clare village of Corofin to plans to house 20 asylum seekers in the village's only tourist hostel. Local people first heard rumours which were confirmed this week by the Asylum Support Services section of the Department of Justice, that 20 asylum seekers are to be housed in the tourist hostel, located in the centre of the village.
Local publican John Burke who is heading up a committee opposed to the asylum seekers occupying the tourist hostel says this is not a racism issue, but a livelihood one. The village is located at the edge of the Burren, and tourism is the village's only income, which local people say is essential to their economy. They say if the tourist hostel is closed to tourists to facilitate asylum seekers, then major income will be lost to the village.
They also point out that the village has little or no facilities; no health centre, no pharmacy, no bank, no cinema, and only one bus service a day. They point out there are more suitable accommodation locations, such as flats in the town, as well as a house being for sale which could accommodate asylum families, more suitably than the tourist hostel.
The dispersal of asylum-seekers has been Government policy since last November. So far, over 1,000 people have been sent to various parts of the country. The programme is controlled by the Directorate for Asylum Support Services, which was established by the Department of Justice.
