Backlash to Kildare refugee accommodation motion
Aras Cill Dara
THERE was a backlash to a county councillor's motion calling for a review of refugee resettlement in Co Kildare with it being described as "marginalising and scapegoating"
At the most recent meeting of Kildare County Council (KCC), Independent Ireland councillor Bill Clear authored a motion on the meeting agenda requesting “that the council provides the elected members with a detailed report on the International Refugee Resettlement Programme (IRPP).”
Cllr Clear sought “that this information be provided with a view to Kildare County Council reviewing the operation of the scheme in the context of the significant people on the housing waiting list and the significant levels of homelessness within County Kildare.”
Cllr Clear said that “we cannot house our own” and are “looking for people from other countries.”
Figures provided at the meeting indicated that Kildare had been allocated 66 refugees to be resettled between 2024 and 2026 with 50 being resettled as of 15 January 2026.
Independent councillor Padraig McEvoy called out the “marginalising and scapegoating” he saw in cllr Clear’s motion. He pointed to issues in the housing market that should be focused on rather than refugees.
Cllr Chris Pender - a former party colleague in the Social Democrats - said he was concerned by the framing of Cllr Clear’s motion, saying that “stoking fear and resentment” is not a valid way of doing things.
Labour's Aoife Breslin, chairperson of county Kildare integration committee, rebuked cllr Clear, pointing out that 66 refugees is a small number and that they have not caused the housing shortage. She stated that Labour does not support cllr Clear’s motion.
Cllr Suzanne Doyle of Fianna Fáil said that the motion is unhelpful, commenting that it “isn’t rational” to focus on immigration.
Cllr Clear disagreed with the remarks by fellow local representatives.
An extensive report issued in response to the motion by David Creighton, acting director of services in the integration section at KCC, gave background to the IRPP programme.
“The Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) is a national programme established by the Government on 10 September 2015 as part of Ireland’s humanitarian response to the migration crisis in Europe. Its purpose is to provide safe and legal pathways for refugees (primarily those identified by the UNHCR) to resettle in Ireland.”
The report said that local authorities are responsible for the housing of programme refugees in their communities, where they are housed in local authority or approved housing body housing, and also for community integration.
The IRPP depends on local authority participation.
Mr Creighton’s report added that “each local authority supports refugees’ orientation and access to services and ongoing access to education/training, health and community supports.”
The remaining 16 families in the programme are schedule to be resettled in the first quarter of this year, with integration supports due to finish in April.
Mr Creighton pointed out that the refugees in question are the most vulnerable individuals.
