Mayo councillors seek answers over building use

A Westport councillor has claimed that a town centre building is currently undergoing an “unauthorised development” so it can be used to house the “maximum” number of homeless people.

Fine Gael Cllr Peter Flynn made his comments at last week’s meeting of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District after calling for the suspension of standing orders to raise the matter. Cllr Flynn claimed the building at The Mall in Westport will be used to house former residents of the Railway Hotel in Ballinrobe, which was used up to recently by Mayo Co Council as an emergency accommodation centre.

“I want to let people in town know the situation and what it is likely to become. Secondly, we have unauthorised development on the site, an architecturally protected listed building where Mayo Co Council have obviously agreed with the landlord for substantial monies and turned a blind eye.”

The Fine Gael councillor claimed that the majority of those who will use the Westport building have “no connection to the town”. He also said he had received some photographs of the back of the property and “it beggars belief what is being allowed”.

“A whole host of additional apartments is being constructed, there is also one wooden structure underway, two more foundations for more apartments and all the windows are screened off in the house so you can’t see what is going on.

“This is an area of conservation in one of the most historic streets in any town in this county. It is a protected area, yet all of this is going on.”

Cllr Flynn formally proposed that the Director of Housing Tom Gilligan attend the next municipal district meeting to “set out what is the scenario with the homeless shelter”, adding: “I understand that very few people to date have presented to the local housing office here in Westport as homeless. Why he thinks it is okay to close the Railway Inn and move them all to this district I don’t know; and is he satisfied he is allowing Mayo County Council to pay significant money for unauthorised development on this location?”

Independent Cllr John O’Malley said he fully supported Cllr Flynn, adding: “I think there should have been more planning put into the people coming into buildings like this, and there should have been notification to the housing authority, to see are these people genuinely appropriate to have in our town.”

Fianna Fáil Cllr Brendan Mulroy said he wanted to make it clear there was no consultation with local councillors.

“It is a sad day when people can be housed in Westport without the council knowing about it.”

Independents Ireland Cllr Chris Maxwell said he knew of an elderly woman in West Mayo and also a young family who were set to be evicted next week.

“They have been told they have to go to the homeless centre in Charlestown when it is the likes of these genuine people who should be given a roof over their heads.”

Head of the district Seamus O’Mongáin told councillors he would report the allegation of an illegal development to the council’s planning enforcement section. Mr Ó’Mongáin initially stated that no agreement existed between the owner of the building and Mayo Co Council but it was later clarified by officials that it is being used “on a case-by-case basis” to house homeless people. Administrative officer Jim Power said there is currently one person from the municipal district residing there, adding that nobody who was previously accommodated in Ballinrobe is living in the Westport premises. Mr Power stressed that the issue of homelessness is a “complex” matter and the council was trying to deal with it as best it could.