Health concerns among top priority for asylum seekers in Roscommon

The mental health of asylum-seekers in Co Roscommon is being affected by not being allowed to work – and having deportation orders.
Some are also stressed about not having access to a GP.
Around 200 asylum-seekers and refugees live in four IPAS centres in Co Roscommon.
Roscommon County Council’s local authority integration team holds weekly meetings with them.

New documents reveal health concerns are the top priority for residents, with no GPs available to some of them.
Mental health wellbeing is also challenging for them, due to past trauma, not having permission to work, and having deportation orders.
Many ask the council for help with getting housing, but there’s a lack of housing stock available for them to move to from their IPAS centre.
Meanwhile, 865 Ukrainian refugees are living in people’s homes in Roscommon, under the government’s Offer A Home programme.
The property owner gets €600 a month under this scheme, but that will reduce to €400 in October and phased out completely next March.