Properties in Laois towns considered for migrant accommodation claim councillors

Laois towns are said to have been viewed for potential accommodation for groups of immigrants, local councillors have claimed. 

Mountrath with a population of some 1,400 people would not have facilities to take a group of 30 to 40 people, according to local Independent Cllr James Kelly.

He has urged Laois County Council to ensure that any national decision to place economic migrants from other countries in the town must be prefaced with local consulation.

"I acknowledge the work in Laois County Council especially by the Integration Support Officer Carmel McNichol. Laois is playing its part.

"IPAS, the International Protection Accommodation Services are doing sweeps on our buildings to see if they are suitable. That is where rumours start. 

"There has been no engagement with the local community. If say you have 30 or 40 extra in a town, with a health service maxxed out. We know a town like Mountrath will not be able for these individuals, the extra people coming to town," Cllr Kelly said.

Sinn Féin Cllr Aidan Mullins said similar has happened in Portarlington.

"It is very important we have consultation in place. There is a lot of unrest and dissent in Portarlington with the way things are being handled at the moment. It's very difficult to discuss it without being seen to be called far right but we need a discussion," he said.

Cllr Mullins claimed that while the Ukrainians staying in Portarlington have "settled well and integrated into the town", that IPAS is looking at "vacant homes, pubs, butchers, with no consultation". 

"People are asking questions and don't know where to go for the answers. We are being silenced, the narrative is controlled that you are part of the lunatic fringe, the far right," he claimed. 

Meanwhile Cllr John King said that despite rapid modular housing for 42 homes for Ukrainians going up in Rathdowney, there has been no notice given to schools on how many extra places are needed for September.

"They are left in limboland. The community was good enough to allow them into Rathdowney without serious objections," he said, asking for the schools to be notified. 

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald agreed with him.

“We’ve many issues in Portlaoise with school places, it’s very difficult for all Principals and vice principals doing a timetable. It’s difficult anyway. Its especially hard to get teachers. I do think there should be coordination between schools and the department,” she said.

The CEO of Laois County Council John Mulholland said that every local authority is obliged to work with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

"The department proposed that each local authority take on integration support teams. We haven't heard anything since but generally two or three area assigned to each local authority. It is an area of activity that each local authority be involved in," he said.

He added that there would be a person assigned in Laois County Council to deal with integration issues.

"That is for people who are already settled in a community, to help them with things like job opportunities.We haven't seen sight of the details," he said. 

Integration Support Officer Carmel McNichol said her current remit is to support the Ukrainian refugees "but that could widen" if she was directed to do so by the department.

In the May monthly report, the council states that it "continues to assist IPAS with the temporary accommodation of Ukrainian arrivals to our county, as well as providing details nationally in relation to vacant buildings and sites suitable for medium to long term accommodation solutions".

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There are now 990 displaced Ukrainian citizens staying in Laois. About 336 are in accommodation centres such as hotels, guesthouses and hostels and refurbished properties, with the remainder in privately sourced or pledged accommodation.

A letter will now go to the Department asking for engagement and consultation with local communities, before any accommodation is given out in Laois.

A row had ensued during the discussion when the Cathaoirleach tried to halt any further discussion on the issues, with Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley, Cllr Ollie Clooney, Cllr John King and Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald all saying that they were entitled to speak.