People living on Fairgreen demand action over parking at IPAS centre

H0useholders at Fairgreen in Mullingar are calling on the authorities to address concerns over the parking of vehicles associated with residents of the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) facility at Columb Barracks.

One local resident, who asked not to be named, said the issue had been ongoing for some time but had worsened in recent weeks after people staying at the former army barracks were reportedly told they could no longer park their vehicles on the site.

“This is going on a long time now,” she said. “The people staying in the army barracks were told they could not park in it a couple of weeks ago and they all started parking in the car park here at Fairgreen.”

The resident claimed that the number of vehicles now occupying spaces in the estate was causing difficulties for householders, and also raised concerns about litter and behaviour in the area.

“It’s full now of residents from the army barracks,” she said, alleging that people were spending long periods sitting in their cars and gathering around the vehicles.

She further claimed that alcohol was being consumed, takeaway food was being discarded and various items, including car parts and carpets, had been left

on the ground.

According to the resident, the situation continues throughout the day, leaving local people frustrated about the condition of the parking area and the impact on their area. She estimated that approximately 30 vehicles were regularly parked there and claimed that some did not have valid insurance, motor tax or NCT certificates.

The resident also said traffic wardens had visited the estate periodically and issued parking tickets, but that the vehicles returned.

She recalled an incident in which a woman approached motorists and asked them to move a vehicle parked outside her home. The vehicle was moved and, she said, did not return to that

particular space.

The resident is now calling for intervention to address both the parking situation and the alleged dumping of rubbish.

“I’d like to see the area cleaned up, maybe put up no dumping signs because you can clean it up now and they’re going to do it again,” she said. She believes that cleaning the area alone would not resolve the problem unless further steps were taken to prevent the situation from recurring.

In response to a query from the Westmeath Examiner, the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration said parking arrangements varied among IPAS accommodation centres.

“While there may be car parking available to residents at some IPAS accommodation centres, it is not guaranteed at all centres,” a spokesperson said.

“In relation to Columb Barracks, it is not possible for IPAS residents to park close to the IPAS accommodation centre at the site.”

The department added that residents in IPAS accommodation receive information about life in Ireland, including expectations around acceptable behaviour outside accommodation centres.

It also said residents were regularly informed about the powers of An Garda Síochána in relation to anti-social behaviour, including the confiscation of alcohol from people drinking in public places, particularly where public safety could be affected.

Parking problem raised at council meeting

Car parking near Columb Barracks is causing headaches for the residents of a nearby housing row, Cllr Ken Glynn told officials at the October meeting of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad.

Cllr Glynn called for “immediate action” to prevent the situation in which, he said, a large number of cars are parking along the back lane at Grand Parade.

He explained that the presence of those cars is preventing refuse collection and oil delivery services from accessing houses.

The official written response from the district office stated that it had recently issued a number of Fixed Payment Notices and had sought the assistance of An Garda Síochána to address illegal parking at that location.

It went on to say that the District Office also intends to resurface the remaining section of the lane and provide additional road markings at that location.

Cllr Glynn wasn’t convinced th0se measures alone would solve the issue: “Outside of what has been proposed here, director, is there anything else we can do? This has always been an area for the residents of Grand Parade and surrounding areas to park and their back lanes are being blocked up.”

He added that a nearby car park has been taken over with cars, some not taxed and insured. “Is there anyone in the barracks - the management there - that we can contact about this? Because this can't be allowed to continue.

“I know the council can only do so much. And I know we're writing to the gardaí. But there's a management issue here. So if anything can be done, I think we need to do it.”

Director of services Deirdre Reilly responded that the guards have been contacted and road markings are planned, “but it does go back to the Department of Defence”.

She said the district would write to the department, but there wasn’t much more the authority could do.

Raithín and Farran plan

Cllr Glynn also identified a problem at nearby Raithín and Farran, stating that there was a need for a road safety plan - including traffic-calming measures - to help slow down the large volume of traffic accessing the area daily.

A written response from the executive stated that speed ramps are to be considered for the Raithín and Farran housing estates as part of Westmeath County Council’s 2027 works programme, following concerns about traffic volumes and the safety of residents.

Cllr Ken Glynn told the October meeting of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad that the area had “felt forgotten” when it came to traffic-calming works, despite the issue having been raised by several councillors over a period of time.

He said the estates had become a through route for motorists, particularly following a change to the road layout at Ashe Road, and drivers are using the area to avoid a junction or travel towards Educate Together.

Cllr Glynn said residents were sometimes struggling to get out of their homes because of the volume of traffic, while the presence of young children on the roads added to the safety concerns.

He also pointed to a large green area that was heavily used by the community.

He called for a commitment to addressing the problem, suggesting that additional funding might be sought from the council’s Housing Department to help pay for traffic-calming measures.

He said planning permission had repeatedly been granted for developments in the past without any traffic-calming measures being introduced.

Director of services Deirdre Reilly confirmed that speed ramps in the housing estates were planned for consideration as part of the 2027 works programme.

She said she would also ask the district engineer to examine what other traffic-calming measures might be possible.

She ruled out funding from the Housing Department, saying the measures would have to be financed through the council’s own Transportation Works Programme.