No accommodation for fleadh volunteers - Clarke

Cllr Sorca Clarke spoke in the Dáil this week on behalf of the Order of Malta, who are volunteering at this year's Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Mullingar.

The charity will have 80 volunteers providing 24-hour coverage at four medical posts in Mullingar during the event and as of now, the volunteers will be sleeping on the floor of a hall with no access to bathrooms or showering facilities.

The defence spokesperson for Sinn Féin and Longford Westmeath TD, Ms Clarke asked An Taoiseach Micheál Martin for a personal intervention on the matter, and told that there has been no effort to solve the issue.

“Applications have been sent, calls have been made, emails have been sent and not a single one of them has been responded to.”

Ms Clarke expressed her frustration as she stressed the importance of having the volunteers at the fleadh, yet they have no appropriate accommodation.

She asked the Taoiseach to ensure these people have a proper base to work from while in Mullingar.

“It's not too late for something to be put in place for them to feel safe and for the town to benefit from their expertise.”

Mr Martin replied: "I was not aware of this. Normally, those kinds of operational issues are sorted out and organised in advance of such a big event. It will be a very big event.

"We are always very grateful to the Order of Malta and other such organisations for the work that they do voluntarily to enable these festivals to take place, so they should be looked after.

"I will follow it up."