Tipperary county councillor calls for talks around any plans for former convent's future

The owner of the former Sacred Heart Convent and Secondary School in Roscrea and also the Minister for Integration, Roderick O’Gorman, must meet and engage publicly with local people to clarify the plans for the building before any decisions on its future use are made, according to Cllr Shane Lee.

It is understood that an application has been lodged seeking to provide accommodation in the building for up to 400 Ukrainians fleeing the war in their country. However, neither the owner of the building nor the Minister has confirmed or denied these plans or any future plans there may be for the extensive building.

“Basically, the people of Roscrea are being kept in the dark’ said Cllr Lee. “Not informing people of their plans has resulted in a backlash from many people, with rumours spreading that a second Direct Provision Centre could be located in the premises. One already exists in Roscrea.”

Cllr Lee pointed out that the town was home to a large number of non-nationals currently employed in local industries and businesses and residing in accommodation across the town. However, services were under severe pressure.

Accessing GP and medical services as well as securing school places are some of the key concerns that local people have raised, he said.

Cllr Lee said that there was also "huge anxiety" around policing in the town, as the Garda station was significantly under-resourced and was only open to the public for limited periods during the day.

"At night, the town is dependent on gardai being despatched from stations in nearby towns, some 20 miles away," he said.

While acknowledging that the people of Roscrea are kind-hearted and generous, Cllr Lee said that he was satisfied that Roscrea was already "over-burdened and not capable of taking in upwards of 400 additional people as it cannot provide for their needs".

He maintained that had those who made this decision conducted proper research they would have immediately ascertained that fact.

"Local people are angry with the secrecy around plans for the former Sacred Heart Convent and Secondary School. They feel that they have a right to know what is happening in their hometown," he said.

The Lowry Team councillor said that earlier additions to the population of the town had already resulted in Roscrea people struggling to access vital services.

"They feel that their town is being taken over without any engagement or consideration for their needs and they have had no opportunity to establish the facts on what is happening, much less voice an opinion.

"This lack of information and consultation is resulting in frustration. This anger will continue to grow until the people of Roscrea are given the opportunity to hear from the owner what his present and future plans entail," he said.

Cllr Lee said that people felt that the owner and the Minister also needed to hear the views of the Gardai, local doctors, schools and transport providers as their services were critical to further expanding the population of the town.

"If these critical services can not be provided the result will be a catastrophe," he warned.

"I am requesting, as a public representative of the local people, that the owner of the former convent and the Minister come to the town to outline their intentions before any further moves are made. I am asking that they engage with local people and listen to their views and the views of the necessary service providers," said Cllr Lee.