Plan to house refugees in former Limerick nursing home won’t go ahead
Tournafulla building will not be used for people fleeing war
PLANS to house refugees fleeing violence at a former nursing home in West Limerick will not go ahead.
The old Cashington Lodge nursing home at Tournafulla village, which has a population of just over 200 people, was identified for use by the government.
However, there was opposition in the community.
Now, Minister of State Niall Collins says he has received news the building will not be used for this purpose.
“I can confirm that a decision has been taken not to proceed to accommodate international protection applicants in Tournafulla. 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,” he said.
Mr Collins said instead the building can be placed into community use.
Another local TD, the Minister for Further and Higher Education Patrick O’Donovan says he has noted the decision by the Department of Children and Integration.
“I will continue to work positively with the community on the continued development of infrastructure and amenities in the area,” he added.
It was in August this year that the Leader first revealed that department officials were weighing up using the building for refugees.
It came after the sale of the property near the village’s community garden and was a move which would have seen the community grocery forced to find new premises.
Now it appears the operators of the community grocery have been given a last minute reprieve following the decision of the government to not proceed.