Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party)

Communities are concerned. These are not racist people but people who have legitimate concerns in their communities. The European Union cannot dictate how many people can come to this small island. Independent Ireland Councillor Linda de Courcy pleaded for answers from this Government, through me, about Citywest a number of months ago. No matter what I asked, I never got an answer until the deal was signed. The concerns people had were legitimate. These facilities in Citywest have been central to Ireland’s response, but questions remain unanswered. I am calling on the Minister to clarify who consulted the community groups, elected representatives and NGOs, and when those engagements took place. We need transparency on occupancy levels, the categories of residents housed, the services provided, staffing numbers and the total cost to the State over the past four years.

I also ask for details on the recent expression of interest process, how many responses were received and whether these sites were referenced and what areas were proposed. Contracts governing these facilities must be published, including clauses ensuring compliance with planning, fire safety and building control laws. Has the Department verified these requirements? If the use of Citywest is to become permanent, we need to know the intended use of the surrounding land and whether further development is planned. These are legitimate questions that should have been resolved in the local community before anything ever started, but they were not.

See this speech in context