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Single mothers living in direct provision in Cork say they're not allowing their children outside the room without them

Tuesday, 27 April 2021 13:55

Roos Demol, a volunteer who works with people living in direct provision in Cork, says those living in the system are afraid their children will be taken away from them if they're left alone. 

It follows a new study by The Ombudsman for Children which found parents living in the facilities were wrongly warned that their children may be removed by child protection services if they did not supervise them properly. 

Speaking to RedFM News CEO of International Community Dynamics Roos Demol says parents living in direct provision who are already experiencing high levels of anxiety about their futures, now have the added pressure of worrying about their children's safety:

"There's a mother of teenage girls who doesn't want to let the girls get out of the room, once they're inside so they can go to school and all that but over there, because he has concerns safety concerns. It isn't the way to live, it's horrible, because you have to imagine, people are already under extreme stress over their papers and over what is happening there and the trauma that they've suffered in their countries and then they live in a place where they feel that their children aren't safe and especially now during COVID, even worse."

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