Ryan and Lawless at loggerheads over Ballinrobe homeless accommodation

THE November meeting of Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District was adjourned after two councillors locked horns over a Ballinrobe hotel currently accommodating homeless people.

Cllr Paul Lawless of Aontú claimed he was being ‘silenced’ by Ballinrobe-based Fianna Fáil councillor Damien Ryan after Cllr Ryan refused to allow him to speak about a motion he tabled before Wednesday’s meeting.

Cllr Ryan, who is Cathaoirleach of Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District, refused to allow Lawless to speak on the matter as he did not have a seconder for his motion.

Cllr Lawless called for Mayo County Council to install a full-time security team at The Railway hotel and ‘to outline the supports available to the residents of the facility including mental health, rehabilitation supports’.

The General Election candidate claimed that anti-social behaviour was occurring at the hotel, which is accommodating people in 24 rooms, including some women and a child.

The Knock-based representative said that locals have reported incidents of shouting, fighting and drinking at the privately-run hotel, which is understood to be owned by an individual living outside the Ballinrobe area.

When his motion on the matter came before Wednesday’s meeting, Cllr Lawless continued to speak despite being repeatedly asked by Cllr Ryan if he had a seconder.

According to Cllr Ryan, the standing orders of the meeting dictate that councillors may only speak about a proposed motion after receiving a seconder.

When Cllr Lawless expressed concern over the issue not being discussed, Cllr Ryan said that the council had facilitated ‘several’ public and private discussions on the matter.

Independent councillor Patsy O’Brien echoed Cllr Ryan’s comments, saying the issue had been dealt with ‘very comprehensively’.

However, Cllr Lawless continued to speak, telling the meeting that several local residents had brought the issue to his attention.

Cllr Ryan then adjourned the meeting, stating: “If you don’t understand the standing orders then you shouldn’t be sitting around this table.”

In a statement issued on Wednesday night, Cllr Lawless said he was ‘shocked and dismayed that an issue as serious as this was not allowed to be discussed’.

He described the hotel as ‘a halfway house’ that was ‘completely unsuitable for any child’ due to the alleged anti-social behaviour on the premises.

“The spectre of a child leaving this privately-operated halfway house every morning to go to school fills me with anger and this is the sad legacy of successive Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil governments. We have never seen child homelessness before in Mayo. It is a disgrace in a country that is doing so well economically.”

Mayo County Council did issue a formal reply to Cllr Lawless’ notice of motion, which described The Railway Hotel as ‘a privately operated accommodation provider, who accepts homeless presentation referrals’.

Residents have access to Wi-Fi, a fridge, a microwave, a toaster, a kettle with tea and coffee, juice and bread and a dining/common area which is subject to a midnight curfew.

“The owner of the premises is currently looking into the provision of coin-operated clothes washing and drying facilities. The majority of the rooms are ensuite and for those that are not there are communal bathroom facilities,” wrote Olivia Gallagher, Senior Executive Officer and Head of Housing with Mayo County Council.

Ms Gallagher added that the council ‘holds regular HAP Place Finder Clinics on-site to meet with the residents in relation to moving on from Emergency Accommodation to a more permanent form of housing’. These clinics are facilitated by a HAP [Housing Assistance Payment] place finder officer and a social worker.

As of October 9, 156 people were living in emergency accommodation in the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District; in Ballinrobe, Charlestown, Kiltimagh, Knock and Swinford

In total, there were 214 people in emergency accomodation in Mayo, including 41 in Castlebar, three in Killala, 12 in Westport and Mulranny. Mayo County Council is also accommodating two people in Athlone and Roscommon.

Cllr Ryan described the share of emergency accomodation in the Claremorris-Swinford area as ‘top-heavy’ and called for a ‘meaningful attempt’ to balance emergency accomodation across the other Mayo municipal districts.

His views were supported by Ballinrobe-based Fine Gael councillor Michael Burke, who said his area was ‘carrying way more than what we should be’.