By Sean Moriarty

Hotels accepting large amounts of refugees and asylum seekers into their premises risk destroying the town’s tourism industry - councillors said this week.

Concerns have been raised as to the future of the town's tourism industry come March or April next year following the large influx of refugees which they say is having a detrimental effect on businesses in the town centre.

Councillors raised the issue during a respectful debate at Wednesday’s Killarney Municipal District meeting.

Killarney is currently home to 572 International Protection applicants, and a further 1,300 Ukrainians fleeing from their war torn country also housed in the town.

This marks an approximate 10 percent increase in the town’s population, putting core services like schools and healthcare facilities under considerable extra pressure.

Cllr Niall ‘Botty’ O’Callaghan asked the meeting if Killarney Municipal District would: “Write to the relevant Minister to ask for a plan in relation to the resettling of asylum seekers to Killarney and the support structures that are in place as our town is struggling to cope with the influx in terms of GP services etc.”

He also asked if the KMD would: “Write to the Minister for Finance to ask for a plan for the business community in Killarney that is struggling to survive after the Government decision to remove more beds from the tourism system and thus reducing the footfall and spending power. This is a decision taken by this Government that directly affects our business.”

These two requests prompted a lively debate within the Council chamber. While all elected members understood the need to offer help to those fleeing difficult circumstances in their home countries, they said something needed to be done too to protect Killarney’s tourism offering in the future.

“Where are they going to go? The country can’t cope right now and more people are coming. What’s going to happen in March or April? Are these businesses going to put these people out?” Cllr Brendan Cronin said.

“We must look within at our business sector also because you can’t take with one hand and expect it’s all going to be rosy next March or April.”

Cllr Marie Moloney warned that the system is at breaking point and that the town will not be able to cope. She said this is not fair on both those seeking refuge and town’s residents.

“We cannot bring people from the Ukraine into Killarney and then not be able to provide the services. They are going from one hell to another,” she said.

However, she pointed equal blame at the business people of the town who are continuing to accept refugees – a potential off season boost for such businesses – but one with long-term ramifications for the tourism industry.

“They are the ones that are actually destroying the tourism trade in town by cutting down on the bed nights,” she added.

Cllr O’Callaghan warned that the influx of refugees is having a knock on effect on smaller businesses, like cafés and bars who are not getting the same footfall as usual. He cited the recent closure of two town centre cafés as an example of how businesses are suffering.

“The decisions being taken are taking more bed nights out of the town. A lot of it is greed,” he said.