Sligo school turning away pupils due to capacity issues as councillor demands guaranteed resources ahead of IPAS arrivals to Globe House

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

Cllr Fergal Nealon has called on the Government to immediately provide clear timelines and firm resourcing commitments ahead of the planned arrival of additional International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) residents to new developments at Globe House in Sligo.

Addressing his motion to a meeting of Sligo County Council, Cllr Nealon said it is unacceptable that local communities and frontline services are being left without basic information while already operating at or near full capacity.

“Sligo cannot be expected to absorb these population increases without clarity, advance planning, and guaranteed resources,” he said. “Decisions are being taken at national level, but the consequences are being felt locally, and local services are already stretched to their limits.”

The motion calls on the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm the expected timeline for the phased arrival of IPAS residents to the new development at Globe House and to clearly outline what additional supports will be provided to ensure local services can cope with increased demand.

Cllr Nealon pointed to mounting pressure within the education system, highlighting Our Lady of Mercy Primary School as a clear and factual example of capacity being reached.

“Our Lady of Mercy Primary School has had to turn away pupils,” he said. “In February last year, the school received 71 enrolment applications for just 51 available places. Twenty children had to be refused, something that had never happened before. That is the reality on the ground with only approximately a quarter of total numbers due to arrive at the new accommodations having already done so.”

He said that schools which historically accommodated children from all across Sligo town, such as the Mercy primary no longer have that flexibility, with staffing and supports under severe strain.

“Resources are already stretched. Schools are redeploying Special Needs Assistants to manage demand, and many new arrivals understandably present with additional emotional needs arising from trauma and displacement,” he said. “Supporting those needs properly requires additional staff and specialist resources, not improvisation.”

The motion also seeks clarity on post-primary school capacity, special educational needs provision, social work staffing, health services, and community supports, all of which are currently under pressure.

“This motion is not about opposing people coming to Sligo,” Cllr Nealon said. “It is about fairness and responsibility. Incoming residents deserve proper support, and existing residents should not see their access to services diminished because planning and resourcing were not put in place.”

He said it is essential that central government accepts responsibility for the downstream impacts of its accommodation decisions.

“If accommodation is being provided by the State, then the State must also ensure that schools, health services, and community supports are properly resourced in advance,” he said. “Local services cannot be expected to carry the burden alone.”

Cllr Nealon concluded by calling for immediate engagement and transparency from Government.

“This Council is entitled to clear timelines, clear numbers, and clear, funded commitments. Anything less risks undermining services, schools, and community confidence. Proper planning and adequate resourcing are not optional, they are essential.”

Cllr Nealon stressed, “This is not about opposing anyone coming to Sligo,” adding, “The Council is entitled to clear timelines.”

The motion was seconded by Cllr Paul Taylor and also supported by Cllr Gino O’Boyle who referred to the overcrowded classrooms saying, “It is not fair on communities or families.”

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Fund