Tipperary councillors tell officials ‘Your trust with local politicians is at an all time low’

The March meeting of the full Tipperary County Council saw councillors receive a presentation from Eibhlin Byrne, National Lead on Civic Engagement at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

Beginning what was certain to be a controversial discussion, Ms Byrne explained the role of the Community Engagement Team within the department:

“The purpose of the team is to assist the flow of information regarding arrivals into areas. This is to ensure that local communities are provided with up to date information about the current situation regarding accommodation for those seeking international protection, particularly where it relates to their area.

“The team does not have a role in the procurement of premises or the allocation of new arrivals.”

READ NEXT: Thurles IPAS centre meeting postponed amidst heated local debate over the proposal

She added: “There are three groups of people coming to Ireland. A person fleeing the war in Ukraine seeking Temporary Protection; An asylum seeker who is seeking the right to remain in the Irish state; A refugee who has been granted international protection in Ireland.”

After her presentation, the floor was opened up for input from the councillors.

Cllr Shane Lee was the first to speak:

“I am extremely disappointed in the way your department deals with elected people. Our only hotel in Roscrea was closed and following this closure you’re now trying to open a second hotel for IPAS accommodation.

“You have no consideration for the people of Roscrea and it’s very hard to trust your department.”

Nenagh’s Cllr Seamus Morris followed:

“In your role as community integration you have failed miserably.

“The line of communication when it came to the refugees in Borrisokane was absolutely ridiculous.

“They were literally dumped out on the street.

“Our faith in your department is very low.

“You’re making multi-millionaires out of very dubious people.

“We’re very proud that we offered shelter to refugees but I think Shane Lee is right, you’re trust with local politicians is at an all time low. You have to earn our faith back.”

Cllr Phyll Bugler from Ballina then probed Ms Byrne on why so many Ukrainian’s were able to go into work so quickly when refugees from other areas were not.

Ms Byrne took some time to respond to the councillors saying:

“The difficulty that arises is when people get status. Once they have status it’s up to them to seek accommodation.

“In terms of a right to work, you do not have a right to work until 6 months but you do have the right to work immediately if you’re Ukrainian.”

Cllr Joe Hannigan, who was played an instrumental role in securing housing for the Borrisokane refugees spoke next:

“In 2019 in Borrisokane, when the initial idea of housing refugees was proposed, we had a town meeting and a community group was set up. A deal was agreed upon and everything worked out very well when the refugees moved in.

“Since then, the deal has been renegged. The property owners have been able to renegotiate a very lucrative deal while we put our necks on the line to ensure these people had housing.”

Cllr Sean Ryan followed this up changing the subject slightly:

“I think that something we need to look at is school places and places in GPs. I have local people ringing me all the time that can’t get into places. How do we work that? Another thing is, what’s the plan going forward with modular housing that was brought in once the Ukraine war is over?”

Ms Byrne informed councillors that the units came on Lorries and could be taken away in lorries to other sites as they would need planning for them to be used for local people.

Finally, Cllr Jim Ryan said “We have a high population of Ukrainian’s and Syrian’s in Thurles that have blended in very well. Thurles has been very welcoming but fear is beginning to grow out there.

“Has the department come up with a maximum number that we can take in?

“We do not want a humiliating situation like the one in Dublin with tents on the canal bank.”