Local Fianna Fáil TD Eugene Murphy has welcomed the allocation of €97,000 by the Department of Health to put in place health supports and interpretation facilities for the Syrian refugees who are due to arrive in Ballaghaderreen this week.
Eugene Murphy said he had been informed by the Minister for Health Simon Harris on Friday that the Department of Health had allocated the money to the HSE from the Dormant Accounts Fund.
Commenting on the news Deputy Murphy said “The HSE has also commissioned Safetynet to operate the HSE’s new Mobile Screening Unit, funded through Dormant Accounts, which will provide a basic screening and assessment service on site for refugees in the initial period in Ballaghaderreen and this is also most welcome. However we must to continue to monitor the situation and ensure that such allocations are sufficient to meet the ongoing needs of the Syrian refugees.
Eugene Murphy added “I will also be pursing the case of a child psychologist for the county as this position was supposed to be fast tracked as I previously highlighted that there are currently over 130 children on a waiting list for a child psychologist for the county and there will now be extra pressure on the system as undoubtedly many of the Syrian children will have suffered untold heartache and trauma so we need to ensure that they are not added to a long waiting list for child psychology services.”
The new Emergency Reception and Orientation Centre in Ballaghderreen is now ready to receive refugees. Refugees who have arrived in Ireland destined for the “EROC” are being accommodated in the Balseskin Reception Centre pending transfer to Ballaghaderreen.
Deputy Murphy said that he had been informed that health screening has been offered to all refugees in Balseskin Reception Centre and the process of transferring medical records to relevant personnel at Ballaghaderreen is underway.
The Health Service Executive has been making preparations in advance of the transfer of the refugees to Ballaghaderreen and has appointed a senior officer to liaise with the management of the EROC and coordinate the health service response to the clinical needs of the refugees.