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03 Nov 2025
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03 Nov 2025
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Residents have moved into a new 50-unit development in Westport
Mayo councillors have been refused access to the names of tenants to a new Westport estate under GDPR rules have described the decision as 'sad' and 'very wrong'.
Members of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District were informed that they will not be receiving the names of tenants in the new Bog Gate Demesne estate as it would breach GDPR rules.
The residents of the new 50-unit estate on the Golf Course Road in Westport recently moved into their new homes but a local councillor complained that he does not know the names of the people who moved in or where they came from.
Independent councillor John O'Malley questioned why councillors were not informed of who was successful in getting a house in the estate.
“Why weren't the councillors given a list of who was successful in getting houses. I'm not saying there is anything wrong about them but we should get a list to know who is in the houses. It would be nice to know who was in the houses,” he asked.
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In response, Head of the Municipal District Seamus Ó Mongáin informed Cllr O'Malley that for GDPR reasons, the council are not able to disclose this information.
This was questioned by Erris-based councillor Gerry Coyle who said that councillors had previously been given the names of successful applicants.
“Elected councillors are being deprived of the opportunity to know what is going on in their area because of GDPR.
“It is very unusual we always get the list to say certain persons got allocations,” he commented while adding that as the councillors are the directors of the council they should be entitled to know.
Cllr O'Malley said that the councillors approved the estate and felt it is wrong that they do not know who lives there.
“The only way we can know is [who is living there is] by knocking on the door and saying 'howya, I'm a councillor and welcome to the area and what is your name'.
“That is the only way to find out. Ask them who they are and where they came from. I tell you it is sad and very wrong,” he said.
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