Roscrea Stands Up returns for public meeting on social issues

ROSCREA Stands Up have arranged a public meeting planned for this week to hear concerns over several issues causing distress for the local community.  

Roscrea Stands Up - formed in 2014 to address issues relating to drug problems shot to national attention after an impromptu march on Roscrea Garda Station happened after their inaugural meeting - have called on the community to attend the public meeting in the Muintir na Tíre Hall on Chapel Lane this Friday (Nov 17) at 7:30pm.

The depletion of Garda resources in Roscrea and dissatisfaction with Roscrea Garda Station's opening hours, rising anti-social behaviour and overburdening the town's essential services due to the sudden dramatic influx of asylum seekers are the main focus of the meeting.

Derek Russell, founder of Roscrea Stands Up, told the Tribune the activist group has returned to address building tension in Roscrea, because local people want the worsening situation highlighted.

Mr. Russell said local people feel Roscrea is once again neglected and that because Garda resources are overstretched, crime rates are spiraling and the community are fearful about the future.

"The future of Roscrea Garda Station and the number of Gardaí currently working in the town are a serious concern", Mr. Russell said, adding that lack of information about the dramatic influx of people seeking international protection who moved to the town in recent weeks is exasperating the problem.

Repeated delays in securing Roscrea's long promised Garda CCTV system to assist Gardaí police the town and an update on the future of the Dean Maxwell Community Nursing Home are also up for discussion, he said.

Last week public representatives called for a meeting with the Minister for Justice and Minister for Integration and Equality to address the issues in Roscrea. Local Independent Councillor, Shane Lee, made the appeal to government ministers after his own car was stolen and involved in an incident where two members of the Gardaí were injured and required medical care after an incident at a checkpoint in Roscrea last month.

Separately, Tipperary TD, Deputy Michael Lowry, raised the current situation in Roscrea in the Dáil and told Minister for Integration and Equality, Roderic O'Gorman, that people in Roscrea are "afraid" and that vital healthcare and policing services in the town are "overwhelmed and cannot cope" after the sudden increase in people seeking asylum in Ireland now living in Roscrea.

Roscrea Stands Up have invited all members of the public from Roscrea and surrounding areas to attend the meeting and contribute their views. The meeting begins at 7:30pm in the Muintir na Tíre Hall this coming Friday night.