Meath County Council due to make decisions about two IPAS centres proposed for Trim
Today at 07:37
Planning permission decisions are due by Meath County County Council shortly about two proposals for International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres in Trim.
Both applications were made under Section 5 exempted developments for which planning permission is not required.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Irish Independent
Meath councillors back council's rejection of exemption for IPAS centre in industrial unit
The application, submitted by Erinpark Ltd, sought a section five declaration for what it described as "non-material amendments to the facade" of Unit 29 in Oaktree Business Park, along with a change of use from commercial purposes to temporary housing for those seeking international protection. Trim councillors supported the council's decision, emphasising the importance of proper regulatory scrutiny. Councillor Ronan Moore said: "I didn't expect these exemption applications to – succeed. The reason being that these buildings are commercial or industrial in nature. To make them suitable for people to live in – and to meet requirements around disability access, fire safety, and building regulations – significant internal works would be needed. And in almost every case, this would also involve external alterations, and if external works are required then it cannot be considered exempt development.' A separate application concerning a premises on Fairgreen in Trim is currently under review, with a decision expected by June 10. Mr Moore added: "I would like to expect that the same logic will hold up in the second application in town due to be made by June 10. And that this too will not be granted exempted development. However, there is a deeper issue here and that is how the government has allowed private and commercial interests to drive the placement of IPAS centres. "And as a result of this, no consideration appears to be given in the first instance to the needs and concerns of either the potential International Protection Applicants or the communities that are expected to welcome them. As a result, local towns and villages are for weeks left frustrated and uncertain as to what is happening in their community. This is simply not good enough." Councillor Noel French also welcomed the outcome, stating he was 'glad' the exemption was denied. 'The building was not suitable for use as an IPAS centre and for use by human beings. The government should address the use of section 5s and reform the legislation,' he said. In its decision, the planner pointed out that the applicant did not provide sufficient documentation about the proposed changes, including a lack of drawings to clearly outline the modifications to the facade. The planner's report indicated that the "proposed development would most likely require additional windows, vents and potential fire safety measures in order to convert the existing structure into a habitable space in terms of natural lighting, ventilation fire safety etc" and that in order to "successfully change the use of the structure to provide accommodation suitable for human habitation, material changes to the external facade would be required".
RTÉ News
23-05-2025
- RTÉ News
Directors of IPAS centre management firm shared €4.68m last year
Two directors at one of the biggest operators in the International Protection (IP) applicant accommodation sector last year shared a €4.68m jackpot in pay and pension contributions. In the second half alone of last year, Igo Cafe Ltd trading as IGO Emergency Management Services received €29.9m (incl VAT) in State payments for accommodating IP applicants. The Dún Laoghaire-based company is co-owned by directors Ann Murphy and Cristina Andries on a 50/50 basis and in 2024, the two shared €4.68m in remuneration and pension contributions. The Government spent €1bn on accommodating IP applicants last year. The new accounts for Igo Cafe Ltd show that the two directors shared €3.779m in pay and an additional €910,000 in pension contributions. If evenly split, the €3.779m works at €1.889m each for 2024 which equates to average pay of €36,346 per week for each. The €3.77m in pay is almost three times the €1.3m the pair shared in pay in 2023. The accounts show that the company recorded post tax profits of €1.3m last year which was a 48.5% increase on the post tax profits of €882,126 in 2023. Numbers employed increased from 31 to 77 last year while accumulated profits at the end of December stood at €2.28m as cash funds totalled €1.24m. The cash funds of €1.24m compared to only €1,158 in cash in the company at the end of 2019. A spokeswoman for the Dept of Justice said today that IGO Emergency Management Services "are a facilities management provider at four International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) accommodation centres". She said: "The Department does not routinely provide details of IPAS Accommodation Centre locations or occupancy levels. "While detailed contractual arrangements for IPAS centres are confidential and commercially sensitive, the Department publishes quarterly reports on all payments to service providers over €20,000, which include IPAS accommodation contracts for this and other providers." She said that these reports are publicly available online. She said: "IGO Emergency Management Services are not a facilities management provider for Ukraine Temporary Protection scheme." Meanwhile, the Government spend on accommodating IP applicants came to €1bn last year, after €280m was spent in the final quarter. The €1bn spend was a 54% increase on the €651.75m paid out in 2023. Last year, the Government spent a total of €1.84bn on accommodation for IP applicants and Ukrainians. The outlay equates to a daily average spend of €5m across 2024.
The Journal
23-05-2025
- The Journal
Two directors at one of the biggest asylum seeker accommodation firms shared €4.68m last year
TWO DIRECTORS AT one of the biggest operators in the International Protection (IP) applicant accommodation sector last year shared €4.68m in pay and pension contributions. In the second half alone of last year Igo Cafe Ltd, trading as IGO Emergency Management Services, received €29.9m (incl VAT) in State payments for accommodating IP applicants. The Dun Laoghaire based company is co-owned by directors Ann Murphy and Cristina Andries on a 50/50 basis and in 2024, the two shared €4.68m in remuneration and pension contributions. The new accounts for Igo Cafe Ltd show that the two shared €3.779m in pay and an additional €910,000 in pension contributions. If evenly split, the €3.779m works at €1.889m each for 2024 which equates to average pay of €36,346 per week for each. The €3.77m in pay is almost three times the €1.3m the pair shared in pay in 2023. The accounts show that the company recorded post tax profits of €1.3m last year which was a 48.5% increase on the post tax profits of €882,126 in 2023. Numbers employed increased from 31 to 77 last year. Accumulated profits at the end of December stood at €2.28m as cash funds totalled €1.24m. Advertisement The cash funds of €1.24m compared to only €1,158 in cash in the company at the end of 2019. A spokeswoman for the Department of Justice said today that IGO Emergency Management Services 'are a facilities management provider at four International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) accommodation centres'. She said: 'The Department does not routinely provide details of IPAS Accommodation Centre locations or occupancy levels.' 'While detailed contractual arrangements for IPAS centres are confidential and commercially sensitive, the Department publishes quarterly reports on all payments to service providers over €20,000, which include IPAS accommodation contracts for this and other providers She said that these reports are publicly available online. She said: 'IGO Emergency Management Services are not a facilities management provider for Ukraine Temporary Protection scheme.' Last year, the overall Government spent on accommodation for IP applicants and Ukrainians totalled €1.84 billion. The outlay equates to a daily average spend of €5m across 2024. The spend on accommodating IP applicants was €1 billion last year after paying out €280m in the final quarter. The €1 billion spend was a 54% increase on the €651.75m paid out in 2023.
