Anger over absence of any consultation over Direct Provision Centre

LOCAL residents from Oughterard met last night (Wednesday) in the town to voice concerns over their fears of a Direct Provision Centre for asylum seekers being ‘foisted upon them’ without any consultation.

Building and alteration works have been going on at the now-closed Connemara Gateway Hotel close to the village over recent months – but no information on the project has been provided to local people or their representatives.

Local FF councillor, Seamus Walsh, told the Connacht Tribune that there was real anger in the local community that such a project could be undertaken with absolutely no notice and no consultation.

“There are very real fears and concerns about the scale of the project that could be involved here – it could turn into a ghetto. It will hugely detract from Oughterard as a leading tourist centre for the Connemara region,” said Cllr. Walsh.

He also added that people living in the vicinity of the former landmark Connemara hotel – now closed for a number of years – had real security fears given the numbers of people who could be located at a Direct Provision Centre there.

“There is also a deep sense of anger at the total lack of consultation with the local community on the provision of such a centre. This will be a life-changing development for Oughterard and the local community,” said Cllr. Walsh.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.