Sligo/Leitrim Independent TD Marian Harkin said the system of dealing with migration into the Republic of Ireland was “broken".

The TD called for better vetting systems for those coming into the country.

Her call comes as figures obtained from a government document by The Impartial Reporter show that the Republic has taken in almost 100,000 refugees/asylum seekers since February, 2022.

25,876 people have come here seeking International Protection with state-sourced accommodation and support services.

In addition, the State was also providing accommodation to 73,385 people who have fled the war in Ukraine, resulting in 99,200 people in State-provided or pledged accommodation in Ireland – and that number continues to increase.

And, in the last six months there has been an average of 560 people seeking accommodation every week.

When asked by this newspaper if she was surprised by the level of vitriol at times in the room during a meeting held on the proposed housing of 90 male refugees in a B&B outside Ballyshannon, Ms. Harkin said that “people are feeling helpless, and nobody is listening to what they are saying".

She said: “I have been told that 1,200 have come to Bundoran and that is a lot in a small town.

“Where is the tourism accommodation? The businesses and people just feel that they are not being heard.

“Some people were angry, and some were not, and the angry people were heard at the meeting.

“But all the people recognise that the system is broken, and that no effort is being made to fix it.”

So how can it be fixed?

“The first thing is that anybody who comes to this country without papers, there should be an area in Dublin Airport or wherever they are kept for a period of time while it is checked out and verified.

“If people are fleeing torture and war, we have to try and help them.

“But there are a lot of young men, and it is mass migration, because they are looking for economic opportunities, and if they want to come, we need a proper visa system.

“For example, we are short of lorry drivers in this country, and a lot of people in Georgia have lorry drivers’ licences who want jobs.

“We could do with some construction workers. Put a proper visa system in place so that people can come in here, get their jobs, find their houses etc.

“When the Irish went abroad, they lived two and six and eight to a room, and found their way, and people have no issue with that.

“But people have real concerns with large groups coming, the State paying for it, and there seems to be no end to it.

“I am hearing this for the last 12 months and it is a very live issue,” she added.

Meanwhile, Bundoran businessman Diarmaid Doherty told the meeting earlier that jobs were being lost in the town as some businesses did not need as many staff when they could fill their premises with migrants.

If the premises had been filled with regular visitors to the town, they would be spending a lot more money, and there would be a much better spin off for the sea-side town, he said.