Mosney may get extra social and health funding

The Department of Health has said it will consider the allocation of special funding next year to improve medical and social services at the country's largest accommodation centre for asylum-seekers.

The move follows revelations yesterday that the North Eastern Health Board has criticised the provision of healthcare services at the centre at Mosney, Co Meath, which houses 800 residents.

Opposition parties and support organisations for refugees and asylum-seekers yesterday criticised healthcare services in the centre, and called on the Government to provide additional funding.

The Irish Times revealed yesterday that the health board report found that the Mosney centre was "not providing healthcare to meet the identified needs of the population".

The report expressed concern at the provision of immunisations for children, the level of nutrition for infants and the extent of community welfare services.

The North Eastern Health Board is seeking €8.5 million in additional funding annually to provide services for asylum-seekers in its region.

A spokesman for the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, said the Department would consider the issue of special funding as part of the financial estimates for 2005.

The chief executive of the Irish Refugee Council, Mr Peter O'Mahony, said it was clear that the health boards had not received a fraction of the necessary funding to provide services following the introduction of the direct provision by the Government.

Under direct provision, asylum-seekers are provided with full board and lodgings, but with only a small amount of money weekly.

The Fine Gael health spokeswoman, Ms Olivia Mitchell, said a specific budget had to be made available to cater for the Mosney centre. She said it was ludicrous and dangerous to think that meeting the health needs of residents would be without financial implications.

The Labour health spokeswoman, Ms Liz McManus, said it was "inexcusable that babies and children have not received appropriate vaccinations and are, therefore, prone to infection themselves, and subsequently to infecting those they come into contact with".