Before I address the issue of Roscrea, I wish to put on the record of this House that I am not a racist. I am not anti-immigrant and I have no record of provocative language, either in or outside this House. Unlike Deputy Smith, who happened to mention me on three occasions in her speech, I stand for something. In her position, she is against everything and for nothing. I have been in this House for 37 years because I have managed to support Governments that have delivered for my constituency.

Lined their pockets.

That is my responsibility and obligation and I have done that.

Let me now address the issue of Roscrea. On four occasions in the past year, I have raised the subject of immigration policy and the lack of strategy. Each time I spoke in this Chamber, I illustrated Roscrea as a classic example of a system that is not working – a town that was overburdened, overwhelmed and in urgent need of vital services to be improved and supplemented. The Government did not listen. It ignored the legitimate and genuine concerns of the people of Roscrea. The people of Roscrea are compassionate by nature. After assurances and enhanced support networks, they accepted without protest a direct provision centre with hundreds of asylum seekers, as well as a centre to house 400 Ukrainian refugees. The reality is that this influx accounts for up to 20% of the population of Roscrea now. Therefore, by any sensible, reasonable, logical or sustainable criteria, you would have to conclude that Roscrea had already exceeded its capacity. This Government has failed Roscrea on immigration. It neglected to support the town in its time of greatest need.

During all of last year, the Government dismissed my real and genuine concerns and I can say today without fear that this Government has let down the people of Roscrea. The current unacceptable situation would have been avoidable, had the Government listened, responded and acted to address policing, educational, medical, social and recreational needs. There has been a flurry of activity in the past 48 hours; face-saving proposals after the damage has been done.

The Government is on the run on immigration policy and is making it up as it goes along. How many times have we heard from Ministers in this House that there should be consultation and communication? In the case of Roscrea, there was no consultation and with the current system, we are not getting consultation or openness and transparency. What we are getting are deals done and contracts signed that are shrouded in secrecy until the last minute. This alienates the local community and leads to suspicion and distrust.

Can I remind Members of this House that Roscrea is a traditional rural town? It is a friendly and welcoming town. Its people have shown great generosity and kindness. It is a town with an excellent community spirit that has coped with a lot of setbacks and adversity. It is a town that is fighting back through its community and voluntary leaders and organisations. I work closely with these groups. Many positive things are happening in Roscrea. Projects have been sanctioned that will bring enterprise and jobs and stimulate the local economy.

Under the town and village renewal scheme, the Minister has sanctioned and funded crucial revitalisation projects. It is rather ironic that while her Department is assisting with the renewal of the town, another Department has taken the extraordinary decision to take the only hotel in the town out of commission. How can it be acceptable for a Department to be complicit in such action?

I thank Deputy Lowry. I listened to Michael Murray from North Tipperary Development Company on the radio this morning. My Department supports its work. When you hear about the work North Tipperary Development Company is doing, you find out that it is helping Ukrainians and international protection applicants with training and employment supports. It set up a Roscrea welcome group and is working with local residents to host coffee mornings and play days. I believe Mr. Murray said that a special Ukrainian commemoration day is coming up. These community-led supports can make such a difference in terms of allaying fears and concerns. Last night on television, we all saw women in Roscrea bringing toys for the children who arrived there and I have to say fair play to them.

My Department has invested more than €7.8 million in Roscrea in recent years. I have a list of projects we have supported such as the Lions Club, the Roscrea scouts community hall and Roscrea Tennis Club. We have funded new walkways and greenways. Deputy Lowry, together with Deputy Cahill, has been in contact with me about the REACH project in Roscrea, which will see the development of a new enterprise hub. As the cost of that project has increased due to inflation, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I have approved the additional funding that was requested to enable that project to proceed. Deputies Lowry and Cahill were in contact with me concerning the project well before Christmas and in the summer. It is a €3 million project that will make a big difference to the town in terms of job creation.

We have been engaging in different parts of the country through the local development companies. I was at an event in my own county on Monday, where the local development company is engaging with the Roma community. A large number of members of the Roma community live in Carrickmacross and great work is happening on the ground in terms of getting them to understand our norms and helping us to understand their cultures. This is something that needs to be done on the ground. We should not fear these people because they are here and have come from very difficult circumstances and many of them want to make a new life here and take up employment.

The Taoiseach has tasked Ministers with developing proposals to support areas that have taken in large numbers of Ukrainians and international protection applicants. I announced €50 million last year for projects under the community recognition fund. Many applications have come in under that. These will be facilities that will enhance the areas that have experienced a significant increase in their population because of the accommodation of new people coming in.

I am engaging with the Minister for public expenditure on funding a further round of that programme to support towns such as Roscrea. I hope to have agreement on that shortly.

Any proposals need to come from the ground up, from the local community in Roscrea, because it is the people on the ground who know what they need. My Department will work with Tipperary County Council on this. There have been some initial discussions as regards the idea of a community hotel. The Sliabh Beagh Hotel in Monaghan has operated on a community-run basis for many years. It works extremely well. Deputy Carthy is very familiar with the good work that goes on there. That has been mentioned. All I can say to Deputy Lowry is that we are happy to work with Tipperary County Council on this as well.

Finally, my Department funded a town centre first plan in Roscrea some time ago. One of the key recommendations in that plan was developed in collaboration with the local community, and that was the redevelopment of one of the vacant hotels in the town.

We are way over time now.

I am sorry.

I welcome every initiative that can be taken to support and assist Roscrea and its people. In my opening address, I complimented the Minister on her commitment to Roscrea and to the organisations within Roscrea, and I am glad to hear today that the REACH project can now go forward. As the Minister is aware, I have been very active with her officials in successfully promoting other projects such as the Gantly Street and Market Square developments and the provision of a new coláiste pobail for Roscrea.

As regards the hotel, it is comical politics to close one hotel and to open another. I have serious reservations about the practicality of the exercise, but in the interest of the town I am prepared to give it every consideration and discuss it locally with the council officials and everybody else involved. We should, however, look also at the possibility of a private purchase of the hotel with the support of the grant aid from the Department in order that we look at the two options: first, a privately purchased option supported by grant and, second, the community option.

Finally, what proposal does the Minister have as regards extra gardaí, extra classrooms, extra teachers, extra doctors and dentists-----

Thank you, Deputy. We are way over time.

-----and recreational facilities?

It is fair to say the system we have designed was for around 3,000 to 4,000 arrivals per year, and that was based largely on accommodation from private providers. Nobody foresaw the general increase in the applications we now have due to a war. We are in an emergency situation. We have plans, which I know the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, is working on, to acquire more State-provided accommodation and to look at where that needs to go in terms of maybe a fairer or a broader distribution across the country. The Taoiseach has asked each Department to come forward with proposals as to what we need to do in areas that have experienced a higher-than-normal number of international applicants or Ukrainian refugees. I fully understand that people are concerned. They might not be able to get a doctor's appointment. I understand the concerns people have. Each Department will come forward with proposals to the Taoiseach in the next week or two so we can deal with this issue.