A county council warned a hotel that ended up the subject of an arson attack was isolated with little access to public transport, healthcare, or schools.
In internal discussions, Galway County Council said that while the property was in a “beautiful location”, it was rural without any links to bus routes.
The local authority also said they needed to check the Ross Lake House Hotel in Rosscahill for fire compliance issues and that the Fire Service would carry out a report on fire safety at the building.
The property was subsequently set ablaze in one of a number of attacks on buildings believed to be earmarked for housing international protection applicants.
Formal discussions over its use began on December 12th when the Department of Children and Equality contacted Galway County Council asking if they had any information that might be relevant to its use.
An internal council email read: “I have contacted both Planning and Fire. In terms of local knowledge, this property is in a beautiful location. However, it is rural; there are no links to public transport; the nearest being in Rosscahill, 1.2kms from the property.
“The nearest shop would be either in Oughterard (8.2kms or Moycullen 8.7kms). To my knowledge, the local school is full, as is the nearest health centre in Oughterard.”
In other discussions, the local authority also raised significant issues around a lack of school places in the area.
However, one email seemed to think whatever information they passed onto the Department of Children and Equality was unlikely to be heeded.
A message between colleagues said: “Do you want to reply to [them]? As I think the quicker it issues, the better, even though [redacted] feedback would not inspire you with any confidence in it being regarded.”
It went on to detail extreme challenges in finding school places for children, including Ukrainian kids that had arrived in the area at the start of the school year.
The email said: “There are no primary school places available - the local school is full, and many classes (particularly early years) are already overbooked for next year.
“Efforts have been made to secure primary school places in another primary school in Rosscahill and in Oughterard, but they have failed.”
It said there were similar challenges around secondary schools with waiting lists already in operation and the only places available in Clifden, which had no suitable transport option available.
The email said: “As a result of the above issues, there are still Ukrainian children in the Roscahill/Oughterard area who have been accommodated since September where all efforts to find school places have failed due to capacity and transport issues.
“These issues have been brought to the attention of the Department of Education and there are serious concerns regarding any further placements in the Roscahill/Oughterard areas.”
However, a briefing note from the department subsequently confirmed that the premises would be for adult males, with an initial contract for one year, and a full-time staff and security presence.
In other records, Galway County Council said they had no enforcement file on the property, but that fire services did want to carry out an inspection.
One message said: “Fire Service have issues with that building in terms of fire safety and compliance – they will issue a full report on Monday.”
However, late that Saturday, just before that report was due to be finalised, the building was the subject of an arson attack by extremist anti-immigration protesters.
Asked about the records, a spokesperson for Galway County Council said they did not wish to provide a comment.
