Moynalvey meeting hears criticism over lack of transparency and consultation on refugee accommodation plans

Paul Murphy

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the owner of a property where it is proposed to accommodate international protection applicants in Moynalvey, Co Meath came in for strong criticism for lack of transparency and consultation at a public meeting in the village last night (Tuesday, 6th February).

A crowded meeting in the local GAA centre heard demands for more information about the project which was first revealed a week ago. Several hundred people, including councillors from the Ratoath and Trim municipal districts and Sinn Fein TD, Darren O’Rourke crowded into the GAA and dozens of people who could not get seating had to stand in the aisles for the hour-long meeting. They were told that the meeting was not a protest meeting but an information-gathering exercise.

The centre contracted to hold international protection applicants is named Collegelands Forge and was formerly a pub once named as Dorey's Forge and Shanks Mare. It is located in a rural area about 5km from Summerhill village. The meeting was chaired by local residents, solicitor, Robert Dore assisted by DCU Professor Ronnie Munck.

Professor Munck said: “All of our neighbours are 110 per cent behind the reception of asylum seekers and refugees and if and when they do arrive you’ll not find us wanting. We’ll be in the front line to help and provide support."

He said a report on reactions from households near the centre focused on a number of areas – their responses and concerns, the suitability of the venue and the provider of the accommodation and whether everything was up and running. It was the lack of information that gave people most worry.

He said one of the positive things coming out of the meeting was the prospect of an integration-reception committee.

During the meeting, the owner of Collegelands Forge, Michael Corcoran said there was no representative of the Government department at the meeting and a lot of the communications that had been coming through had been completely wrong.

He said five apartments on the site were owned by himself and his wife who were part of the local community. He said that the apartments were meant to accommodate families comprising of women and children from the war in Ukraine who could be joined later by their husbands.

He said he was a local resident and had grown up on a local farm. His parents were farmers and at once stage his mother had driven the local school bus. He said he had told the Department that he and his wife would run with the project if it was for families only. It would not be suitable for all men seeking international protection.

“I’m not saying we’re against them but they would be more suited to a town or city”, he said. He said that when he had been sent the contract by the Department he was told that he could not say anything about it publicly.

One resident said that it should be highlighted that many of the residents around Moynalvey and Kiltale are happy to welcome and assist the asylum seekers in any way they could.

Professor Munck told the meeting that in a survey canvassed among neighbours along the Collegelands Road 13 people had responded and said that they stressed the lack of information and consultation around the project. Many comments from neighbours centred on the unsuitability of the premises, and the lack of transport and amenities. Comments were also made about the lack of experience by the owner in running such a centre and it was claimed that there had been a lack of due diligence by the Department in failing to provide adequate supports for the centre.

A list of questions centring on the status of the buildings at Collegelands Forge, the number of families to be accommodated, who the beneficial owners of the property were, due diligence measures taken by the Department, the day-to-day running of the centre and the extent of the engagement with the local community was put before the meeting.

* This article was updated at 11am, Wednesday 7th February.

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