‘We have taken our share’

CONCERNS At the monthly meeting of Mayo County Council, councillors raised concerns at the number of Ukrainian and other refugees who continue to arrive into the county.

Anton McNulty

A CLAREMORRIS-based councillor has claimed that the arrival of more refugees in the town will cause ‘uproar’ and stressed they have taken their share.
There was concern raised at the monthly meeting of Mayo County Council at the number of Ukrainian and other refugees who continue to arrive into the county, with a feeling among some councillors that Mayo is taking more than its fair share.
Since the start of the Russian invasion over 12 months ago, almost 3,000 Ukrainians have settled in Mayo.
While the vast majority of communities has welcomed the new arrivals, there has been some incidents where communities have raised concerns over the lack of consultation before their arrival.
Speaking at the meeting yesterday (Monday), Claremorris-based councillor Tom Connolly, who was vocal in his opposition to modular homes for refugees being built on OPW-owned land in the town, claimed that Ukrainian refugees were being ‘bulldozed’ into communities.
“There is over 300 in Claremorris and [there will be] another 112 when the modular homes are up and running. If there is any more there will be uproar, there is no question about it. We have taken our share and so have other parts of the county,” he told the meeting. “I am not opposed to people coming but at least let the public representatives be informed with what’s going on. I have got phone calls from different parts of the country where the same bulldozing is going on.
“I hear Michael D Higgins saying we should embrace inclusion. Fine, I have no problem with that but he has 95 rooms in Áras an Uachtarain. Did he take in many Ukrainians?” he said.

No consultation
The issue of the Ukrainian refugee situation in the county was raised during a discussion on housing by Fianna FΡil councillor Damien Ryan, who complained that councillors in the Ballinrobe region were not being consulted on the matter.
He told the meeting that he appreciated that the council has obligations but felt that county’s like Mayo were taking in more than their share and this may result in hassle and upheaval in local communities.
“I am not opposed to the Ukrainian position and I completely appreciate we have obligations and it needs to be balanced and fair and equitable. As a percentage of population, Mayo and some of the rural counties are taking the lion’s share of this provision, being forced upon us from a centralised government where 12 of the 15 ministers are from urban bases. We are taking the lion’s share of it and that is totally wrong.
“Other [EU] member states are not taking the percentages we are and we are not reneging on our responsibilities or obligations but certainly it is having a huge impact. As we go into the summer months and facilities are no longer available, that will create more hassle and upheaval and turbulence. I want to see more consultation and regular communication with the councillors in their respective areas.
“That is only manners and proper procedure and we need to be briefed regularly. There needs to be a balance around the county and around the country but as it at the moment Mayo and some of the rural constituencies are accepting the lion’s share and the department needs to look at that,” he said.
Fellow Ballinrobe-based colleague Cllr Michael Burke was equally critical of the lack of consultation with local representatives, saying the first he heard about the recent arrival of refugees in the town was when it appeared in a WhatsApp message.
“If you want to get buy-in from local communities you must share information and have the book open and not just a drip of information. I don’t mind having to tell a bad story.

‘Let down’
“I was let down personally as a councillor. It was well known they were arriving because the dogs on the street could tell me. But I knew nothing about it and I think that is wrong and you get resistance when information is not given to people in a fair and honest way. You have to be more open,” he said.
Castlebar-based councillor Donna Sheridan complained that the council were not ‘being open and transparent’ about what is happening in the county and felt they were being ‘kept in the dark’. She also called for a report be issued to councillors on updates regarding refugees in the county.
Tom Gilligan, Director of Services who is responsible for housing, told the members that he is happy to keep members informed but stressed that council are only following government policy.
“The reality is this is a very fluid situation and it changes on a hourly basis. I am happy to keep members informed with what is happening and up-to-date in relation to this.
I am happy to do an additional report with the members as best I can and once I have information I am happy to share that with the members.
“We are dealing with a war situation and a lot of the time when refugees arrive in Dublin or the City West, we could get a phone call in relation to accommodation being needed straight away and it can be that fluid and volatile at the moment,” he replied.