Some local Councillors in West Tipperary are expressing anger and disappointment at the lack of communication surrounding a decision that 80 Asylum seekers are to be provided with accommodation in Dundrum House Hotel possibly as early as today. Tipperary County Council issued an email to inform councillors yesterday that the group would be made up of families with no adult males, females and some female couples.
Two local women have now called a meeting for 8.30pm tonight in the Scouts Hall. Jennifer Taylor and Sinead Ryan are in the process of inviting public representatives to attend the meeting. The two local women say they feel Dundrum has taken it’s share of refugees and are also concerned about further pressure on local services and possible safety and security risks. Independent Local Election candidate Liam Browne may be the chairperson for tonight’s meeting. Dundrum House is providing accommodation for Ukrainian Refugees with the numbers involved fluctuating between 220 and 260.
Cllr Anne Marie Ryan posted the Council email on her social media and says Martin Browne has been trying to get information from Minister Roderic O’Gorman’s office, without success until yesterday’s email notice from the Council. Cllr. Ryan describes the communication as really bad from the Government and adds that it is her understanding that TD’s have not been informed. Senator Garret Ahearn also says he has no information about the development as of 10.30pm last night. Cllr Declan Burgess posted that he is “angry and annoyed that NO INFORMATION has arrived from Minister O’Gorman on this proposed new IPAS accommodation.” Cllr Burgess adds that “The Minister and this Department have obviously learned nothing from the Cashel issue or others across the country” adding that “Tipperary County Council and the public deserve basic communication.”
Liam Browne an independent candidate in the Local Elections says that he is aware that plans were being made for the new arrivals as early as last weekend and asks why the Councillors were not informed in advance of yesterday. The Independent Candidate wants a pause on the levels of inward migration until the State can provide the proper spaces and services for such persons.
