Aras an Chontae - the HQ of Mayo County Council.

Move to resolve deep political divisions within Mayo council

EFFORTS are ongoing in a bid to repair broken working relationships within the elected ranks of Mayo County Council caused by the fallout from the migrant accommodation controversy.

A special meeting of the authority planned for last Friday had to be cancelled due to a planned boycott by councillors because of an item on the agenda calling on the council to no longer cooperate in the intake of refugees and asylum seekers until a strategy is put in place to ensure the delivery of critical services.

The situation left the three group whips - Peter Flynn (FG), Damian Ryan (FF) and Michael Kilcoyne (Ind.) - who sought the meeting facing criticism within their own ranks.

A hastily-convened caucus meeting of the Fine Gael members in Westport last Thursday was particularly heated with Councillor Michael Burke vowing to step down as chairman due to his anger over the lack of communication and consultation in respect of the matter.

One member described the state of the party as 'deeply fractured' in the aftermath of the meeting.

"It was robust, to say the least," the councillor added, "but we have a responsibility to try and put it behind us now."

Another Fine Gael caucus meeting was held before yesterday's statutory meeting of the authority at which further efforts were made to restore trust and move on from the debacle.

The party is also seeking urgent talks with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to discuss the need for investment in infrastructure and services in a number of communities.

He is scheduled to visit the county in early June to perform the official opening of the new N5 roadway.

The mood within the Fianna Fáil party softened after its chairman, Councillor Damian Ryan, withdrew his support for the meeting, but members of the independent group have issues to address on the matter.