Health board attempts to counter 'misinformation' on asylum issue

The Mid-Western Health Board has criticised what it describes as a "great deal of misinformation" which has been circulating in relation to asylum-seekers.

In a report to be presented to the monthly meeting of the health board, a senior official, Mr Séamus Woods, rejects allegations that the board has been providing assistance to asylum-seekers towards the purchase of cars and mobile phones.

He states: "This misinformation is sometimes exacerbated by the propensity to label all non-nationals as asylum-seekers."

Mr Woods points out that the Government issued 35,000 work permits in 2001 to non-nationals, whereas the number of asylum-seekers who were registered in the State last year totalled 10,600.

In the report to the board, Mr Woods reveals that there are a total of 1,733 asylum-seekers in the Mid Western Health Board region.

Giving a breakdown of the numbers, he says more than half of the 1,733 are in private accommodation, while the remainder are located in nine "direct provision" centres in which they receive bed and board plus pocket money of €19 each week.

The largest of the centres, based at Knockalisheen on the outskirts of Limerick, houses 291 asylum-seekers.

Eleven unaccompanied minors are included in the total of 1,733 asylum-seekers.

Mr Woods points out that a project worker from the health board's social work section provides a service for these minors.

According to Mr Woods, that health screening is being provided for asylum-seekers who are residing at each of the "direct provision" centres.

This involves vaccination and a follow-up referral service.

"Some asylum-seekers and refugees may have significantly different health-related problems to that of the wider community, including the after-affects of torture, rape and violence and incomplete immunisations," he adds.

Concluding his report, Mr Woods states: "The board is committed to providing accessible and appropriate services for all asylum-seekers in the region, similar to that provided to our indigenous population.

"In this regard, the board recognises the need to understand that the cultural diversity of other people is part of our humanitarian obligation, and \ will assist all other statutory, community and non-governmental organisations in the task of facilitating a social environment in Ireland which accepts refugees and integrates them into the country."