Wow! Councillors in Tipperary pen strongly-worded open letter to the Taoiseach

Chairmen from three Municipal Districts and the Cathaoirleach of Tipperary County Council have written an open letter to An Taoiseach, Simon Harris, over concerns around the use of Dundrum House Hotel as a centre to house International Protection Applicants.

Cashel’s Cllr Declan Burgess, who is also Cathaoirleach of Tipperary County Council, penned the letter calling for a meeting with the Taoiseach to discuss the “very significant concerns, we have in relation to how the IP accommodation is being rolled out in this county”.

Here are sections from letter: “The current strategy being deployed by the Department is not working, is causing unnecessary havoc and toxic division in communities and there is minimal if any relevant engagement or communication with the receiving communities. Councillors are being put in a very challenging position of having to meet with members of the community and provide answers to questions which councillors cannot do as they have no information on same. This approach is not sustainable.

“The following are particular concerns in relation to the selection of sites/units of accommodation for IPs/BOTPs (Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection):

*Whether consideration has been given to service capacity in such areas and where there are such capacity issues, how this is to be addressed

*Whether any consideration has been given to the existing number of IPs or BOTPs in an area and whether there is any regard to the absorption capacity of that area/community when making such decisions

“Example 1: Dundrum Village currently has accommodation provision for 279 BOTPs which were always viewed as a temporary measure by the community and sold as such; as BOTPs leave, the accommodation is now being utilised for IPs (who are seen to be a longer term commitment). In addition, that same operator is seeking to accommodate another 120 IPs in his holiday homes and we are advised that another property in the village is to accommodate an additional 300 IPs. In total this village of just under 200 persons could potentially accommodate 679 IPs

“Example 2: Rathcabin – A previous nursing home is to be converted to a potential IP accommodation and it is located in a rural area with no facilities.

“No information or communication around what locations are being considered for accommodation and/or the numbers involved and the time limit of same, if available is being made available to members in a timely manner

“It appears that there is only one member of the community engagement team whom councillors can engage with and when she is on leave, there is no one else in the Department that is in a position to provide information.”

The councillors call for “proactive engagement with communities early and often and for as long as necessary in progressing the temporary accommodation facilities and the longer term accommodation facilities as they are coming on stream”.

The letter is signed by:

Cllr Declan Burgess -

Chairperson of Tipperary

County Council

Cllr John Crosse -

Chairperson of

Tipperary-Cahir-Cashel

Municipal District

Cllr Mark Fitzgerald -

Carrick-on-Suir

Cllr Michael Murphy -

Mayor of Clonmel