With the lifting of the ban on evictions from Friday next (March31st), families facing evictions in Mayo will have to present at their local garda stations because there's no emergency accommodation available in the county. That was the stark reality outlined by the Cathaoirleach of Castlebar at the county Joint Policing Committee meeting on Friday last.
Cathaoirleach Michael Kilcoyne said he has already received representations from four people who will not be able to afford their present accommodation, once the eviction ban is lifted.
He asked Chief Garda Superintendent Raymond McMahon directly if there are facilities in garda stations across the region to assist people/ families left homeless, as he said local authorities have run out of emergency space.
"If a family arrives outside a garda station, is it garda policy to look after them and what accommodation do you have?" he asked.
Superintendent McMahon said the situation had not arisen to date in the Mayo Roscommon Longford Division.
"As it stands, we don't have facilities but we would not turn a family away," he added.
