Mattie McGrath: Calls hotel contract 'shameful' for small village
Mattie McGrath criticised the government's handling of a contract to house IPAS residents in a small village, calling the decision shameful and accusing officials of ignoring local concerns. He alleged a contract was signed by 'some nameless official' with a Spanish company reported to have a book value of 120 euro, despite ongoing High Court cases and a 20 million contract.
McGrath said a contract was signed by a nameless official with a Spanish company of a reported book value of 120 euro. He said the deal involved a 20 million contract while three serious High Court cases about ownership at the premises are ongoing.
He stressed the village recorded a population of 220 in the last census and said plans would bring 277 IPAS people into that community. McGrath cited guidelines that, in his account, prohibit changing local demographics by more than 5% and argued the proposal would far exceed that threshold.
McGrath recalled meeting Mrs O'Dwyer and Andrea Crowe during the election and said they raised concerns about the use of hotels. He noted doctors had written about the situation, that residents staged peaceful protests, and that the community had previously cared for Ukrainian refugees well, describing the current situation as a "shameful" landing on the community.
He asked why the contract was signed before two ministers took charge of the issue from the Department of Integration and what happened to the promised pause on hotel use after re-appointment Tornishire. In response, another speaker said they would ask one of the ministers to come back directly on the Dundrum issue.
Allegations over the contract
McGrath said a contract was signed by a nameless official with a Spanish company of a reported book value of 120 euro. He said the deal involved a 20 million contract while three serious High Court cases about ownership at the premises are ongoing.
Local demographic impact
He stressed the village recorded a population of 220 in the last census and said plans would bring 277 IPAS people into that community. McGrath cited guidelines that, in his account, prohibit changing local demographics by more than 5% and argued the proposal would far exceed that threshold.
Community engagement and concerns
McGrath recalled meeting Mrs O'Dwyer and Andrea Crowe during the election and said they raised concerns about the use of hotels. He noted doctors had written about the situation, that residents staged peaceful protests, and that the community had previously cared for Ukrainian refugees well, describing the current situation as a "shameful" landing on the community.
Procedural questions and requests for follow-up
He asked why the contract was signed before two ministers took charge of the issue from the Department of Integration and what happened to the promised pause on hotel use after re-appointment Tornishire. In response, another speaker said they would ask one of the ministers to come back directly on the Dundrum issue.
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Transcript
The shocking treatment of the community and the people from Drummond County is ongoing by this government as it was the last government. You met with Mrs O'Dwyer and Andrea Crowe during the election and you listened to them. You also assured me here after the election when you were re-appointed Tornishire that the pause would be put on the use of hotels. Now we find that a contract has been signed by some nameless official with a company a book value of 120 euro, a Spanish company, while there are three serious court cases going on in the High Court about ownership and about to carry on at these premises and you signed a 20 million contract. In a village where there's 220 people in the last census for 277 IPAS people to be put in there, your own guidelines say that you can't change demographics by more than 5%. This is a shocking vista and it's continuing here and what happened to the powers you told me that was on it. And why was this contract signed before Minister O'Connor and Minister Brophy took up the charge of this situation from the other Department of Integration. This is shocking and the people there, the doctors have written, one doctor have written to you, everybody has been talking about it and people don't have a peaceful protest there, good decent people but and they looked after the Ukrainian refugees very well there but this continuing black landing of a community is shameful. Thank you very much Deputy Morgan, I did indeed meet Mrs O'Dwyer and others in Clonmel and I share your view of meeting good decent people. I will ask, because I don't have the information available to me here, but I will ask either Minister Brophy or Minister O'Connor to come back to you directly in relation to this issue in Dundrum. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Dr U