A Clones councillor has said he is "very proud" of the way local people have helped non-nationals integrate into the area. Pat Treanor added, however, that if integration is to continue to be successful, resources need to be provided.
The Sinn Féin councillor praised the work already done by everyone in the Clones/Ballybay area from the Family Resource Centre to the Tidy Towns committee for including the people from some 20 foreign countries who have moved there. According to the latest CSO figures, 10 per cent of Ireland's population is non-Irish. The figure for Clones is around 30 per cent.
Pat Treanor attributed the high number of different nationalities in Monaghan to the thriving manufacturing sector and said that many foreign nationals work in the local shops and hospitality businesses.
"They've settled in very well in most cases. There's been a fair bit of integration that has been done and it's something that needs to be worked at; integration doesn't happen on its own and needs resources and leadership. And I'm very proud of the town here," Councillor Treanor told the Joe Finnegan Show.
