WATCH: Poor communication on refugee accommodation 'turning good people against each other' - Guirke

The Department of Integration's failure to communicate with the community in Coole and other parts of the country is “turning good people against each other”, a local TD has said.

Speaking in the Dail yesterday, Deputy Johnny Guirke asked Minister for Integration Roderic O'Gorman for “the truth” about its plans for the site in Coole where last Friday local protestors prevented 18 modular homes being installed.

A convoy of articulated trucks carrying the modular homes arrived in Coole in the early hours of last Friday morning, May 17, despite Westmeath County Council issuing an enforcement notice to owner of the site earlier in the month.

Deputy Guirke says that people in Coole want to know what is happening in their village.

“Last Friday 18 modular homes arrived in Coole, County Westmeath with no planning permission to erect those homes. There is almost 100 international protection applicants on this site at the moment.

"Westmeath County Council have said there is no planning permission for these homes and they have issued a letter to the developer to stop works.

“We know if the homes are for international protection applicants the developer needs planning permission, but if he is looking for a loophole in the law he can say they are for Ukrainian families and if he has an agreement with the government department then he does not need planning. Can you tell me which is it?

“Peter Burke and Robert Troy were on site stating that he does not have an agreement with the government department yet Taggart Modular Homes [the supplier] states that it has a contract with the government for these modular homes. Can you tell me and the people of Coole, County Westmeath, what is the truth?

“Is it any wonder that good people and communities right across the country are up in arms with no communication, no dialogue from your department turning good people against each other and communities.

Minister O'Gorman told Deputy Guirke that he did not agree with the assertion that the department has not communicated with the people of Coole.

“...We have been very clear that in this location there is no contract for modular homes for either Ukrainians or international protection applicants. There are are around 100 international protection applicants staying already in that site. That's recognised and I know members of the community have been supportive to them, but there is no contract in place for either Ukrainians or international protection applicants. I hope that's as crystal clear as I can make it.”