Locals in Mayfield say that they will continue with a protest that saw hundreds expressing oppositon to a migrant centre in the Cork suburb this week – and have called on the government to use the building to help Irish people in need instead.
Anita Ward, who spoke at the protest earlier this week, told Gript that the protesters would return if the assurances that locals had been given that the former Dominican centre would not now be used for asylum or migrant accommodation were reneged on.
She also called on the government, who she said were spending billions on asylum accommodation, to put a cap on immigration, saying that protesters didn’t want the issue simply moved onto another community.
“We don’t want the problem moved on to another area, that’s not what the protest is about. We’re saying this country can’t house all the people who are coming in especially when our own communities are already struggling,” she said.
“The government needs to put a cap on immigration, we can’t help the world,” the Cork mother said.
Ms Ward said that Irish people needed to come first, and that there was growing public anger at what people saw as failure of the government to provide for the needs of communities while growing numbers coming from abroad now also needed housing and services.
“Part of the reason that such a huge crowd came out in Mayfield was because people are so upset that the government won’t listen: they are laughing at us,” she said.
“Schools around here are full, we can’t get a doctors appointment. Why didn’t the government buy that building and use it for a community centre for the people of Mayfield, and to house homeless Irish people?” she asked.
Ms Ward said that people had asked a similar question when modular homes for refugees were built in Mahon in Cork. “We feel like the government are stepping over Irish people,” she said. “They can make these huge efforts and spend billions for people who arrive here but not for our own people.”
Why wouldn’t even half the modular homes being built go towards Irish people?” she asked. “We don’t seem to matter – and we don’t have the resources, we can’t help everyone.”
She said that protesters were also upset that their own children were being forced to move abroad because of the housing crisis and felt the government was not taking action to prevent that happening.
“Sending our own away – and we’re bringing in others, it makes no sense to me,” she said. “Our own children feel they have no future here, they feel they will never be able to afford a house. People are very upset about this. We have to put our own people first.”
She added that there was an uncertainty around the identity of some people who were claiming asylum in the country. “People are coming in here and ripping up their passports before they arrive,” she said. “We don’t know who they are, its not an acceptable situation, people have a right to be concerned about that.”
And Ms Ward insisted again that the protesters “don’t want the problem just moved on, that’s not fair on the next community. There needs to be a cap now, and we’ve already passed that limit,” she said.
LARGE PROTESTS
The St Dominic centre, a former religious property in Mayfield in Cork City is now no longer being considered as an asylum accommodation centre after large protests took place at the site this week. Ms Ward said that up to 600 people took part in the protest.
Earlier this week, it was reported that:
A former religious centre on the northside of Cork city is at ‘advanced planning stages’ to be used as emergency accommodation, the government has confirmed.
The Department of Integration said an offer has been made on the St Dominic’s Centre in Mayfield and local representatives have been consulted by their Ukraine Crisis Temporary Accommodation Team (UCTAT).
Assessment of suitability on the Ennismore site is still underway and, should plans go ahead, more “detailed information” will be provided to local representatives in advance.
The Cork Beo report also noted that “the company overseeing the former religious centre previously denied rumours that St Dominic’s was going to be used to house refugees.”
Last week, a Cork City Council spokesperson told CorkBeo on Wednesday that the Asset Management Company responsible for the property said it had “no intention of accommodating persons seeking international protection.”
Ms Ward said that the conflicting messages had caused upset and anger in Mayfield, and that while they had now been assured that the centre would not be used for migrant or asylum accommodation, protests would immediately recommence if that assurance proved to be false.
One woman at the protest said that people living in the area had “huge concerns” around safety and security, and that “any community would have serious issues with a hundred or more strangers arriving in their midst”.
Another woman, Laura Lehane, said she was “uncomfortable and worried about her kids not being safe.” She said that there was a fear of the unknown when the government refused to engage with communities.
The number of people who might be placed in the site was an issue for many of the protesters. “I really don’t want to see large volumes of people there. I don’t. Is this secure for us and our community. I’d be in fear of my kids going out playing. We have any concerns about this,” Joanne O Donovan said.
Others said the services were not available. “I came out to oppose this and to protect my community and kids and the women in this area and younger generations. In Mayfield and the surrounding areas, the infrastructure is not capable of coping with this volume of people,” one woman, Sinéad, said.
“Buses and the impact on health services that are obvious are a concern for locals. We also have 3 special needs schools in the area. We have concerns we wish to express on the impact on the schools and services in our area which are already deeply impacted by numbers of people seeking services,” she said.
“No one has been asked anything or spoken too and all we hear is lies,” she added.
Another protester, Jason Kelly, said: “I have a concern like many for housing for locals. I am concerned and connected to the homeless here in cork and my heart goes out to these people. We have to be listened to, and we will be listened to.”
Aaron Joyce, who attended the protest in Mayfield but who is from Waterford, said a large number of candidates across the country had been spurred on by recent developments around immigration to stand as independents in local election.
“I’m part of a generation that feels we are being driven out of the country by a housing and cost of living crisis, while our government focuses its attention instead on those who are arriving here,” he said. “That needs to change.”
Independent Cllr Ken O’Flynn said earlier this week that a lot of work needed to be done to rebuild trust with the local community.
“Does it take a protest on the streets, after a week of social media poison being pumped out into the community, to get the correct information to public representatives,” he said.
However, Green Party Cllr. Oliver Moran said that he believed the local community in Mayfield welcomes migrants, and is not in favour of the demonstrations.
The Department of Integration who had previously said that the centre was at “advanced planning stages” for emergency accommodation use now says the site is no longer being considered.
“The position as of this morning is that the department received an offer of commercial accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (those fleeing the war in Ukraine) in relation to the property identified,” it said.
“Following a full review, taking into account the needs across our overall accommodation portfolio, this offer is not being progressed.”
For Anita Ward, the bigger picture now also needs to be addressed. “The government has to listen to the people and put a cap on immigration immediately,” she said. “They are just moving the problem on, and people just won’t accept that.”