Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)

When it comes to IPAS developments, the Government is treating people like mushrooms by keeping them in the dark and feeding them dung. That is what is happening right across this country. It has allowed a vacuum of information to develop whereby it is another day, another rumour. I refer to the Belmont Hotel, St. Mary's Secondary School in Ballina and, most recently, Belmullet. I got a call the other day from a construction worker who was due to price a proposed IPAS centre in the town. This is how people are finding out - by accident. That is what is happening. When will the Government remove the planning circumvention which was designed to ensure that the people have no say in relation to what is happening in their community? What is happening to the Belmont Hotel in Knock? Is it an IPAS centre or a hotel? I have raised this previously. I submitted a parliamentary question about St. Mary's school in Ballina and the reply was astonishing. The Department said that it is not being considered at the moment but may be again. When will the people find out? The works are continuing.

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