Independent Tipperary Councillor Seamus Morris is asking for better preparations to be made when local properties are to be used to provide accommodation for refugees from Ukraine.
Cllr Morris is asking that the existing special planning regulations put in place to regulate such services be amended to include the call for a Strategic Environmental Assessment to be carried out with each proposed development.
Councillors should ensure that wherever existing buildings are used or new modular homes are installed, wraparound services are in place i.e. medical facilities, wastewater and water facilities, school facilities and Garda resources before the accommodation is confirmed according to Cllr Morris.
The Nenagh based councillor says it “is particularly poignant in Tipperary North that we consistently have the worst trolley numbers in the state with only one model 4 Hospital serving 425,000 people when it was originally designed to serve 350,000 and has added 5,000 refugees already in the last 2 years.” Cllr Morris says an already broken system needs such pre planning to protect both citizens and refugees.
The Councillor has submitted his request to the September Municipal District Meeting for consideration.
