Questions asked about use of building in west Mayo as homeless shelter

THE use of a building in the heart of Westport town as a homeless shelter is causing local concern.

With a former hotel in Ballinrobe no longer being used as emergency accommodation, a property in Westport is understood to be the 'destination of choice', Councillor Peter Flynn told a Westport-Belmullet Municipal District meeting yesterday. And it could accommodate people from anywhere in the country, he said.

During the debate, Councillor Flynn also said there has been a 'significant' amount of unauthorised development at the property in question, at the Mall, and he asked if this has been investigated.

The property is in an architectural conservation area, he said, where the council has 'entered an agreement and turned a blind eye to unauthorised development in the area'.

Councillor Brendan Mulroy stressed that there had been no consultation with elected members, and they and the executive in the west Mayo area should be kept informed.

When you have silence you have problems, he said, and the silence was deafening.

If people are being housed in Westport, the local housing office should be notified so they know what's going on. They should be kept informed, as should the elected members, he said.

Municipal district head Seamus Ó Mongáin said the claims about illegal development would be forwarded to planning enforcement to investigate.

On Mayo County Council entering an agreement in respect of the property, he understood there was no agreement.

Councillor Flynn said he had received a text from the director stating the property owner is providing emergency accommodation.

Administrative officer Jim Power, after seeking clarification, said the building is being used on a case by case basis. There is one person in the premises from the municipal district.

There has been nobody accommodated from Ballinrobe in the premises, he added.

Mr. Power said there are two agreements in the county regarding emergency accommodation, and neither of them is in the west Mayo district.

Councillor Flynn proposed that the director of housing would attend their next meeting to set out what is the situation around use of the premises.