At this week’s monthly meeting of Mayo County Council a Ballyhaunis based councillor urged Mayo deputy Paul Lawless to stop talking down the town of Ballyhaunis
The plea came from Fine Gael councillor Alma Gallagher who received a round of applause at the meeting, where she said plans for a new IPAS centre can’t be used to talk down the town.
Her comments came following a social media video published by the Aontú deputy in recent days, in relation to the proposed IPAS centre in the town. The private development has also been objected to by councillor Gallagher.
Bridgestock Care Ltd has lodged a planning application for 32 accommodation units with Mayo County Council for a new-built IPAS centre.
“Ballyhaunis”, councillor Gallaghaer told the meeting,” is a welcoming community and has been integrating nationalities since the 1970s. The town already has an IPAS centre, accommodating 250 residents”.
“Please stop talking down the town I come from,” councillor Gallagher urged, adding that Ballyhaunis has a lot to offer and stating that she wouldn’t have any Oireachtas or local authority member talking down rural towns like Ballyhaunis.
Deputy Lawless refutes the suggestion that he is “talking down” Ballyhaunis in his published video. He insists he is rather highlighting government failure to address the capacity issues around services in the town.
Deputy Lawless spoke to Midwest News Editor Teresa O’Malley about his portrayed view of Ballyhaunis…
