New Mayo councillor defends Galway residency

Mayo’s newest county councillor and the chief executive of Mayo County Council have come under fire for living outside Mayo.

Galway-based schoolteacher and Aontú member Deirdre Lawless has been co-opted onto the local authority to replace her brother Paul following his general election success.

Cllr Peter Flynn welcomed Cllr Lawless to the council but expressed misgivings about the fact that she and council boss, Kevin Kelly, reside in Galway.

“The one concern I have is that at the moment in Mayo, we have a chief executive living in Co Galway, a director [of services] living in Co Galway, and now an elected representative living in Co Galway. 

"If this was a business you certainly wouldn’t want your leadership sitting in another part of the organisation, you’d want them close to the shop floor. You want that interaction on a day-to-day basis. Having key people living in another county is not good; it really is not good,” said Cllr Flynn.

Cllr Alma Gallagher and Cllr Donna Sheridan said they also believed that a Mayo county councillor should be living as close to their constituents as possible.

Cllr Lawless told the online meeting that she hopes to return to her home county but "Government policy" has made this difficult.

“I take on board your concerns but as you all know we are in the middle of a housing crisis and unfortunately our Government has failed to deliver housing, especially for the Claremorris area,” said Cllr Lawless.

“People like myself have had to buy outside our area through no choice of my own,” she added.

Cllr Lawless said she spends a lot of her time in her native area and will continue do so. 

“I really look forward to moving home but there is currently not even any rental accommodation in Claremorris. My hands are tied at the moment but I am fighting hard to get home. 

"I will be available to my constutuents and the council as well. It won't impede my work and it won't impede my efforts or my enthusiasm," she added.

Mr Kelly defended his decision to reside in Galway. He previously clashed with Cllr Flynn on the same issue.

“We have a new council, we have a new year, but we have the same rhetoric. The place of abode or location of work in the era of remote working is not an indicator of commitment to the job or the ability to deliver. I think it’s outdated thinking that hasn’t kept up with the reality of modern life. I know every decision I make is in the best interest of Mayo and Mayo Co Council."