Cllrs call for open Wi-Fi access at Mosney Village
Meath county councillors Ronan Moore (Social Democrats) and Mike Bray (Fianna Fáil) have called on the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) and the Minister of Justice to fund the provision of free Wi-Fi throughout Mosney Village
They claim it will help address challenges that residents there, specifically young people, have in accessing vital supports and services. The call was made by the councillors, who both sit on the steering committee of the Meath Comhairle na Óg (youth council), in a motion that was unanimously accepted by their fellow councillors at the October full county meeting.
“At a recent Comhairle Steering Committee meeting, both myself and Cllr. Bray again heard of the ongoing work in Mosney Village aiding a vulnerable cohort of people to access vital supports and services, said Cllr Moore.
"One of these aids, which was funded by both Louth Children and Young People's Services Committee (CYPSC) and Meath CYPSC, is the provision of portable devices that young people can use for things such as educational purposes.
"The problem however is that currently there is only one internal location where such devices can be used. Unless this is open, and then only during these hours, young people are unable to access the internet off these devices.”
Cllr Bray said the situation has only worsened during Covid.
"For instance, while the use of an indoor environment has been restricted under Covid guidelines there has been an increase in educational work going online. As a result, there are a number of young people attending school who have a device to complete their homework but who are unable to do so because in their rooms they do not have access to Wi-Fi.”
With those living in Mosney Centre being amongst the "most vulnerable people in our society", Cllr Moore said it is "incumbent on us to provide whatever support we can, and to certainly ensure that the supports they receive, are being properly used."
"As a result, both myself and Cllr. Bray welcomed the council’s full support in calling on the responsible authorities over Mosney Centre – the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) and the Minister of Justice – to fund the provision of free Wi-Fi and help these young people access these vital services."