Longford Town does not have the services to support a large influx of asylum seekers according to local Councillors.
Longford Municipal District Councillors held an emergency meeting with local authority executives yesterday over the settling of 70 international protection applicants in a privately owned building in the town.
The local representatives brought up concerns over the availability of health and recreational services in the town.
Councillors also said that the building itself is not suitable for such an influx of residents and lacks any recreational area.
Municipal District Cathaoirleach Gerry Hagan has criticised a lack of consultation and pre-planning in the move:
'Bringing upwards of 70 people into the town will impact on services, medical services etc.
Out GPs are over subscribed, our dental services the same, the education services.
There was no pre-planning on this, This decision was obviously taken without prior consultation with anyone locally or with out any planning put in place locally to accommodate those seeking international protection.'
