Public meeting to be held if Tipperary site is selected for modular build for refugees

A public meeting will be held in Clonmel to allow local residents and groups to raise their concerns if plans for the building of 82 modular homes for Ukrainian refugees goes ahead.

The Mayor of Clonmel Cllr Richie Molloy said on Tuesday that he supported the idea of a public meeting taking place which would be attended by Department of Integration officials.

Last Thursday local politicians were briefed in the Town Hall by officials from the Department of Integration.

They were informed about plans to provide the modular units under the Ukrainian rapid build programme on HSE-owned land on the Heywood Road, close to the halting site.

Initial technical analysis of the site has been carried out by the Office of Public Works with the approval of the HSE. 

The OPW is engaging with utility providers on accessibility to essential services.

Cllr Molloy said a decision on the plan was imminent.

“If officials are told that  the site is suitable for the modular units they have agreed to attend a public meeting in the town. The modular units would house over 300 people  and would be ready for use come November/December,” said Cllr Molloy.

 Cllr Molloy said he did raise some concerns with the Department of Integration officials at the Town Hall meeting last Thursday.

“One of the main issues is if this is the right site for such a development. I asked officials to go and have a look at it themselves on the ground. It is one thing to look at the site on a map up in Dublin but it is important that officials walk the area and inspect the site in person,” said Cllr Molloy.

He said officials were also informed about the size of the housing list in Clonmel  and that many people had spent a long time on that housing list.

“There are about 400 people on the housing list in Clonmel. It is not a question of being anti Ukraine but there are a lot of people on the housing list and they have been on it for a long number of years. People in the town that have been on the housing list for years are asking how can these modular homes be provided so quickly,” said Cllr Molloy.

Cllr Molloy said that the local politicians that attended the meeting also informed the Department of Integration officials about the strain some services were under in the town, including GP practices and schools, and asked how they would  cope with such a big influx of people as a result of the provision of the modular homes.

“This plan will bring in over 300 people into the town and there will be issues with schools and the health services about how they will cope,” said Cllr Molloy.

 Elected representatives were told that a decision could be taken on the suitability of the site within the next two weeks.

Cllr Molloy said the officials said they would be available to travel to Clonmel to attend a public meeting about the plan.

“If the site is deemed  suitable then a public meeting should take place to give the residents of the area, Clonmel Rugby Club and other groups an opportunity to voice their opinions,” said Cllr Molloy.