Fermoy councillors say they would welcome families seeking refuge at proposed centre 

FIVE of the six county councillors in the Fermoy electoral ward have said they would welcome families seeking refuge to a proposed new accommodation centre, but most voiced reservations on the numbers.

This comes after the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth confirmed that it had changed its plans for Abbeyville House, a former B&B located on the north side of the town.

The department had initially intended that the building would be used to provide emergency shelter for 56 single men, but last month it announced the centre would now accommodate families and children.

Last November, five of the area’s six councillors wrote to Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman, saying they would welcome proposals “on how Abbeyville House could be used … for asylum seeker families and women fleeing war, however, not at the current proposal of 56 people”.

Asked if they now stood over the letter sent in November, four of the five signatories said they did.

Fine Gael councillor Noel McCarthy said he would welcome families to Abbeyville House, but he would have some concerns about the numbers accommodated in the centre.

Fine Gael’s Kay Dawson said that while she would have similar reservations about the proposed number of people moving into the new centre, she would be unequivocal in welcoming families.

Fianna Fáil’s Deirdre O’Brien said she would not be in favour of stopping families from arriving, but she would have concerns about the safety of Abbeyville.

Independent councillor Frank Roche said he would welcome families and children to the centre, but would cap the numbers at “16, maximum”.

Fianna Fáil councillor William O’Leary had signed the November letter to Mr O’Gorman, but when asked if he would now welcome families and children to Abbeyville, he said he would not. Mr O’Leary declined to comment further.

The area’s sixth councillor, Fianna Fáil’s Frank O’Flynn, who is currently the Mayor of County Cork, did not sign the November letter to Mr O’Gorman.

In a statement issued via Cork County Council’s communications office, Mr O’Flynn said he had no objection to persons seeking international protection, and he had always adopted an approach of inclusivity and diversity.

“I will continue to liaise with the [Department of Integration] to ensure that the process of accommodation is suitable for all those involved, including the community of Fermoy and the applicants who will be joining our community,” he said.