The late David Heap
Search
01 Jan 2026
Search
01 Jan 2026
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.
Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.
If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .
Support our mission and join our community now.
To continue reading this article, you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles!
Alternatively, you can pay €0.50 per article, capped at €1 per day.
Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism!
An architectural drawing of the proposed IPAS centre in Ballyhaunis
Community leaders in Ballyhaunis have issued a joint statement outlining their response to a proposed International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) centre in the town.
As was exclusively reported by The Mayo News last week, planning permission is being sought for the construction of 32 accommodation units in the Old Convent Accommodation Centre in Ballyhaunis.
The statement, released by Ballyhaunis Chamber of Commerce and local community representatives, confirms that a detailed submission objecting to the planning application by Bridgestock Care Limited is currently being prepared.
The statement comes after heated scenes in Mayo County Council's monthly meeting yesterday.
Anne Cunnane, CEO of Ballyhaunis Chamber of Commerce, Tom Forde, President of the Chamber, community activist Tomas Murphy, and Councillor Alma Gallagher are working together to coordinate the community response.
According to the statement, the Chamber is collaborating with key stakeholders to develop a comprehensive objection to the proposed development. Once completed, the submission will be made available to all Ballyhaunis residents to sign before the planning deadline of December 4th, 2025.
The community leaders emphasised Ballyhaunis's established reputation for integration and social cohesion. "Ballyhaunis has a proud and proven track record of harmonious integration and community cohesion. We are determined to continue in that spirit," the statement reads.
The group also stressed the importance of respecting current IPAS centre residents. "The privacy, dignity, and respect of those currently residing in the existing IPAS Centre — who are valued members of our community — must be fully upheld at this time," they said.
In a significant development, the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has confirmed to the community representatives that Bridgestock Care Limited has not sought a state accommodation contract, nor has any such request been received by the department.
The statement notes that the proposal remains at the planning stage and confirmed they are continuing to monitor developments closely in the interests of Ballyhaunis and its residents.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie
Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.
Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.
This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.
