Speculation rife in Clara over future use for Inchmore House

Speculation is rife in Clara as to the future use of Inchmore House. Work is underway on the building which is a protected structure and many believe it will be used as an asylum centre. Some say that 100 males are to be housed there. Others are of the opinion that it is being prepared for the housing of Ukrainians.

Councillor Frank Moran says he raised the matter at the last Offaly County Council meeting,

''I raised this concern with the Director of Services at our last council meeting directing her to write to the Department of Children and Department of Integration (who have responsibility). The Director is back in the office next Tuesday (today October 31) and I’ll talk to her straight away to see what reply she got.''

Councillor Moran continues, ''in relation to planning, the application (if one exists) goes directly to the Office of Public Works (for refugees they can bypass the local authority),'' he says.

The County Councillor says that, ''the last time this happened in our Municipal District was the provision of 64 modular units in Tullamore and an official from both departments assured us that if there were any other projects they would liaise with the public representatives - this has not happened - public consultation should be the very first step, however again we are left in the dark.''

Councillor Moran said he has no idea ''regarding the dynamic of the proposed tenants.'' He stressed that the mention of 100 males is speculation.

He says the town does not have the capacity for an influx of new residents. '' The excellent facilities we have in the town at present are doing a tremendous job facilitating what we have in the town.

I believe once the department relay their response to our Director and she to us, a public meeting should be called with all stakeholders to give informed feedback to the community and cut out rumours that will not help the situation. We need facts and we need answers forthwith.

The department’s have a lot to answer on this. They have not learned - just look at the proposal for Castletown Geoghegan a couple of months ago and that all went belly up,'' said Cllr Moran.

Additionally I submitted a planning enforcement form to the planning section of Offaly County Council last week outlining the protected structure status of the building,''says Cllr Moran.

Inchmore House is a two-storey house built in 1860. It is a protected structure, built by notable Irish Architect J.S. Mulvany for the Goodbody family.