Concerns in Mayo town over people walking on road to emergency accommodation hub
Elected representatives have expressed alarm about residents at an emergency accommodation hub who have been walking along the road to and from the facility.
Bus Éireann intend to install a bus stop outside the facility following representations from Mayo County Council's Director of Services for Housing, Tom Gilligan.
Mayo County Council began using the former St Anne's as emergency accommodation after it closed as nursing home in 2023. The 26-bed facility had been operating as a nursing home in the east Mayo town for 40 years and can accommodate up to 100 people.
County councillors Adrian Forkan and Gerry Murray said they had received a number of representations about people walking along the road to and from the facility.
'There is somebody going to be killed along that road, and that is not 'maybe',' said Cllr Forkan.
'I drive the road myself to work every morning and during the winter especially, you cannot see people along that road,' continued the Kiltimagh-based councillor.
'It's waiting for someone to be killed along it, then they might do something about it.
'Another thing is the amount of rubbish which people are discarding along that road, and it is not fair on the people who live along that road,' he added.
The Fianna Fáil representative suggested that an emergency footpath be constructed outside the facility.
Charlestown-based councillor Gerry Murray said that some residents were reported walking in the middle of the road in recent weeks.
'If it went in for planning, it wouldn't have got planning, it's so far outside the town,' said the Sinn Féin councillor.
Tom Gilligan said that Bus Éireann are currently preparing documentation to approve a designated bus stop at the facility, which is located on the Swinford Road outside Charlestown.
'I am hopeful that it will be this week or the next week that we will get confirmation that Bus Éireann will stop there,' said Mr Gilligan.
'It will be a positive because I am aware of issues. Some residents have their own transport, but others don't.'
In line with government policy, Mayo County Council is trying to phase out the use of hotels and B&Bs as emergency accommodation.
In the last week of March, 149 people in Mayo were accessing emergency accommodation.
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