Community engagement is taking place in South Dublin to combat “common misconceptions” people have about asylum seekers.
That’s according to independent Councillor Alan Edge who feels there is far too much misinformation about migrants.
A ‘fact and fiction’ leaflet has been sent out 55,000 and Cllr Edge believes it will help alleviate concerns many people have about new arrivals.
“Basically, [it’s] just trying to address some common misconceptions about people coming to claim international protection,” he told The Hard Shoulder.
“The second piece was the Mayor’s charter - which was reaching out to various sporting groups and community groups to try and engage them, which we did with great success.
“Just to get the message across about the fantastic role people play in our civic life who are in international protection.”
A general view of the Mosney Direct Provision centre in Co Meath. Image: Niall Carson/PA WireCllr Edge said much of the information on the leaflets comes from common questions that have cropped up within local social circles about asylum seekers.
“One example is one of the senior South Dublin volunteer people [heard someone say], ‘I’ve no issue with migrants and refugees but I can;t believe they’re getting €250 quid a week’ - but they’re not,” he said.
“The fact of the matter is they get €38.50 allowance.
“So, it was that sort of thing that we wanted to combat.”
Council officials worked with the Department of Integration to make sure what they are putting out is “accurate”.
“What we weren’t doing was tackling head on the sort of conspiracy theories and the sort of mass of disinformation,” Cllr Edge said.
“We took the view that you can’t really engage face on with that - this was really about the middle ground.”
Sinn Féin has urged the Government to conduct much more extensive engagement with communities before asylum seekers move in.
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Main image: Asylum seekers sleeping in tents outside Dublin’s International Protection Office. Image: Rory Walsh/Newstalk
