Councillors to stop communicating with Minister about IPAS centre

NINE COUNCILLORS VOTE TO STOP WRITING TO MINISTER’S OFFICE IN RELATION TO ST THERESE’S B&B

NINE Councillors voted to stop writing to Minister Roderic O’Gorman’s office in relation to St Therese’s B&B during April’s Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District meeting with only one member opposing it.

After months of writing to Minister O’Gorman’s office for confirmation that St Therese’s B&B would not be used as a International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS), Cllr Diarmuid Devereux asked that the issue be taken off their meeting’s agenda and that they cease communication with the Minister’s office in relation to this.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Devereux said he had conducted further research into this issue and found that the family that were selling the home had never intended for it to be used as an IPAS centre. “When that house was put on the market last September and you’ ll remember there was hooha and a public meeting about it being used as an IPAS centre. The woman who’s selling the house, god love her when you think about it, she took it off the market and she instructed the auctioneer it was not to be sold for any reason that would upset her neighbours,” said Cllr Devereux.

Cllr Devereux recalled that councillors had received letters from Wexford County Council’s Acting Director of Service Amanda Byrne on October 4, 2023 which outlined that there was no plan in place for the property to be used as an IPAS centre.

“So what we have is in the intervening period from October until now, it’s been coming up at the meeting, it has been raised publicly for all the right reasons as a result of these meetings. A simple note from the Minister to us saying I have no interest in this house, would have allowed that family to get on with their business.”

“It really is, I believe it disgraceful how this is being handled and certainly is no fault of ours or Wexford County Council. I propose Chairman that we stop writing to the Minister, this family have no intention of selling that house with any purpose to do with an IPAS centre. I think at this stage we should let the family get on with their business. If they want to sell the house or do any normal transaction then that’s their business,” said Cllr Devereux.

Cllr Joe Sullivan agreed with Cllr Devereux and said that the issue should be taken off the agenda. “This is a private house, owned by a private family and for us to be discussing their business here at every Council meeting. I think that, as far as I’m concerned the whole issue should be taken off the agenda. It’s nothing got to do with us at this stage and the house is not for sale, it doesn’t matter to us at this moment in time,” said Cllr Sullivan.

Following this the Council took a vote with every member backing the proposal aside from Cllr Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin.

Cllr Ó Súilleabháin said he wanted the Council to keep applying pressure on the Minister for a response. “I’m proposing we write back that we are disgusted with the lack of response. It demonstrates not just an appalling disregard not just for the communities we’re concerned about but also for ourselves as elected representatives.”

“There’s a standard line that does come back, which is ‘not being considered at this time’. That has been used not just in relation to this, it’s been used in Ferns, and other places. All we asked for is a simple clarification to say we will not be considering this venue as it’s proposed, so I think it might be letting them off the hook not to write back again,” said Cllr Ó Súilleabháin.

Cllr Anthony Donohue suggested that Cllr Ó Súilleabháin should personally write to Minister O’Gorman’s office which Cllr Ó Súilleabháin agreed to do.