Lawless hits out at Fine Gael over Mayo IPAS proposal claims

Is Fine Gael keeping its own elected members in the dark as well as the public regarding the locations of IPAS centres in Co. Mayo and throughout the country?

That’s the question being posed by Aontú Councillor Paul Lawless, a candidate for Mayo in this month’s general election, who claims that a statement issued by FG Councillor Mark Duffy suggesting that the former St. Mary’s Secondary School site in Ballina is not to be used to house International Protection Applicants raises serious questions that cannot be dodged.

Councillor Lawless elaborated: “The developer is in contact with the Department of Integration through a third party and plans are in motion to develop an IPAS centre at this location.

“The planning application clearly states that it is to be used as “temporary accommodation for displaced persons seeking international protections.

"That’s pretty clear. However, we then have an elected member of the Fine Gael party saying the Taoiseach’s office has categorically stated that IPAS has no knowledge of the property, no knowledge of the applicant and has not received any offer from the applicant.

“It’s extremely curious as Section 5 applications are used for IPAS centres. There is a certain process that is followed, and this has all the hallmarks of that process.

"Let’s be honest here, Section 5 planning applications are not used for hotels”.

“I have received confirmation from an official that the company behind the St. Mary’s application is engaging with the Department of Integration through a third party agent. This is desperately cynical and wholly disingenuous.

“The planning circumvention introduced for wealthy accommodation providers must end.

"The planning loophole which allows such developers to sidestep the planning process is deeply divisive.

"Fine Gael’s statement is symbolic of the Government's arrogant policy towards local communities - keeping them in the dark in relation to the development of IPAS centres”.

“The planning decision for this is due on the December 2. That’s convenient for Fine Gael as the General Election will be over”.

“Everyone knows that the Section 5 application is to pave the way for the development of an IPAS centre. Fine Gael’s statement in relation to this is misleading. Ireland is experiencing the highest number of asylum seeking in the EU. We are expected to cope with 25,000 - 30,000 applications each year.

“This is typical of this government’s chaotic, shambolic and wholly disgraceful mismanagement of the immigration issue.

"It has got nothing right on the issue and has badly served both locals and genuine immigrants who need protection so badly.

"It has done an injustice to everybody while affecting false compassion. We know the reality of its ‘compassion’…people lying in cold tents on the cold ground and crammed into unsuitable places.

“The government record on IPAS centre’s has been one of no consultation with local communities, it has dodged questions, it has tried to confuse people.

"Fine Gael’s statement in relation to St. Mary’s is a continuation of this attitude of keeping communities in the dark. It is misleading and wrong.

“Local communities need answers. They need the truth.”