Longford community deeply angered by lack of consultation on refugee plan

As Gardaí continue to investigate last night’s fire at a former convent in Lanesboro which is going to accommodate Ukrainian refugees, local Independent Councillor Mark Casey has hit out at those responsible for the fire and also at the Government for their lack of consultation with the community. 

Gardaí and units of Longford Fire Service responded to the incident yesterday evening (Tuesday, January 16) at around 9.30pm.

The fire was quickly brought under control and no one was injured, however, Cllr Casey pointed out, “The fire last night put people in jeopardy. There are people who live beside that building, there are businesses beside that building, it is an absolute disgrace what is going on.

"I’d be very surprised if it was anyone local who had anything to do with this. It is not a thing you would see normally in Lanesboro. It is not the mindset of the people of Lanesboro.”

Investigation underway following fire at Longford property due to house refugees

Just hours prior to the fire, Cllr Casey, along with other local elected representatives, attended a meeting with the developer and Longford County Council executives to be briefed on the plans for the property. 

He said it was the first time they heard officially about the plans for the former convent building.

“Yesterday we were invited into a meeting with the developer and council officials. It was the first time we heard officially what was going to happen. 

“We were informed that this is a done deal and that the contract has been signed with the Department of Integration to house 85 Ukrainian refugees in the old convent from the second week in May. It was the first time we heard anything about it which I think is a disgrace. Being able to change the use of a building like that without any sort of planning or consultation with local people is disgraceful in my view.”

Cllr Casey highlighted how Lanesboro has been hit hard by the ESB and Bord na Móna closures and the closure of a local nursing home that has refugees staying in it, and said it was a bit worrying to learn that this plan was a ‘fait accompli’.

He expressed concern over the lack of infrastructure and consultation. “I see no infrastructural improvements in Lanesboro in the last twelve months to deal with something like this. We have to look at the schools, doctors; there is no parking at the facility so if these people have cars, where do they park? There are so many unanswered questions here. You would really wonder about the planning of this and how it was rolled out to the  local community as well. 

“We are a welcoming community, we are a tourist town but the way this has happened is a disgrace from the Government. We are saying that we haven’t been given the proper infrastructure. We need to be consulted and we need to bring the community along with this.”

Cllr Casey continued, “It is very concerning. This is a government issue and it stems all the way back to government policy on housing. I was speaking to a man whose son and partner had to emigrate to Australia because they couldn’t get accommodation around Lanesboro or the surrounding area. 

“To see now that all these buildings can be repurposed. Why couldn’t they have been repurposed five years ago? Why is the government suddenly finding money now ? A town like Lanesboro that has lost so much and when we needed help we got no help from the government.”

Cllr Casey said he did ask Longford County Council and the developer to hold an open day at the former convent and invite the local community. 

“The deal has been done. It has been done at a national level with no consultation with local councillors but I did ask Longford County Council and the developer to have an open day at the convent and we have earmarked the 27th of this month from 2pm to 5pm. That will give concerned residents an opportunity to see the plans and talk to the Ukrainian Liaison Officer, talk to the manager of the facility who is a live-in manager, talk to the developer and talk to Longford County Council.”

Longford has the lowest number of Ukrainian refugees in entire country

Numbers housed in Longford are well below the national average, with highest numbers in Kerry