Latest news with #InternationalProtectionAccommodationService
Irish Examiner
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Cork TD 'inundated' with rumours after plan to co-locate refugees in city centre building dropped
Residents and owners of apartments in Cork city centre have given a guarded welcome to the axing of plans to co-locate asylum seeker accommodation in part of their building. But the scenario that has played out at their building since before Christmas has prompted calls for a review of the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) sourcing system for better communication with residents who may be directly affected, and for a review of the regulations which were introduced in 2022 to fast-track the delivery of accommodation for international protection applicants or people fleeing the war in Ukraine. Independent Ireland TD for Cork North Central, Ken O'Flynn, said the handling of the saga raises many questions for IPAS. 'This is largely the result of the State's cloak-and-dagger approach to sourcing IPAS accommodation,' he said. 'It's all smoke and mirrors. What we need is straight, open, and plain dialogue with all the stakeholders, with local councillors, TDs, local residents." Some of the former office space at 23-25 South Terrace was converted into a communal dining area. It follows a protracted saga since January following confirmation the State was considering an offer of IPAS accommodation for up to 50 people across two floors of former office space at 23-25 South Terrace, a striking four-storey Georgian building with a basement. While the ground and first floor were previously offices, and unoccupied for some time, there are 22 residential apartments on the upper floors. The government introduced regulations in 2022, amending the planning and development regulations by inserting a new Class 20F exemption, which permitted the temporary change of use of certain buildings for use by the State as accommodation for international protection applicants without the need for planning permission. The work would be considered exempted development - it would not need regular planning permission - if it met certain criteria. The regulations listed a range of structures that could be considered under the Class 20F exemption, including schools, colleges, universities, training centres, social centres, community centres, or any structure or part of a structure normally used for public worship or religious instruction. The provisions were temporary and time-limited and were due to expire in December 2024, but were later extended to December 2028, and expanded to include structures being used to accommodate people fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Some of the former office space at 23-25 South Terrace was converted into a laundry room. The list, however, made no mention of co-locating IPAS centres within the same building with existing residential use, as was proposed at 23-25 South Terrace. Last November, a formal application was lodged with Cork City Council requesting a Section 5 declaration for 23-25 South Terrace, which asked the council to confirm if the temporary use of part of the building as overnight accommodation for displaced persons or persons seeking international protection is exempted development – that it does not require planning permission. Floor plans submitted with the application showed how the ground floor would be converted to bedrooms, with a communal cooking and dining area, recreation lounges, a laundry room and storage areas, with more bedrooms, toilets and showers on the first floor. City planners stressed that it was not their job to determine the acceptability or otherwise of an IPAS centre at this location, but to assess whether or not the project constitutes development, and if so, is exempted development. They said the plans constituted a material change of use from office to residential but crucially, they said the previous use of the ground and first floor was office space, and that offices was included on the list of Class 20F exemptions. They requested further information to clarify if the new accommodation was to be occupied by displaced persons from Ukraine or by IPAS, and requested written confirmation of approval, or approval in principle, for the use of the property as an IPAS centre from either the relevant government department, or the relevant section of the city council. Floor plans submitted with the application showed how the ground floor at 23-25 South Terrace would be converted to bedrooms. A response received in mid-December included a letter from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth, which at the time had responsibility for IPAS centres, confirming its interest in using the property for international protection applicants. By mid-January, city planners deemed the proposal as exempted development – effectively clearing the way for work on the two floors to proceed. When the owners of apartments on the upper floors found out about the IPAS plan in their building, they sought answers from City Hall, but were told it was a matter for the relevant department - responsibility for IPAS has since been transferred to the Department of Justice. One property owner told the council: 'We understand the predicament of supporting asylum seekers, we support efforts in housing them but you cannot overlook the impact to long-term residents in your decisions and at a minimum, we are owed the courtesy of engaging the residents and unit owners. 'The lack of care, courtesy, transparency and engagement from Cork City Council is disappointing. 'We think Cork City Council should inform all homeowners across the city centre immediately and those considering buying in Cork City that the council might convert commercial units within an existing residential building at any time under a Section 5 to an IPAS centre without any form of engagement with homeowners or concern for the impact.' Some of the former office space at 23-25 South Terrace was converted into recreation lounges. City Hall said the planning department's role in this was restricted by legislation and there is no statutory mechanism or facility within the process to enable public submissions or wider community engagement as would be the case in a standard planning application process. In the meantime, work on the conversion of the two floors to IPAS accommodation got underway, with partitions erected to create bedrooms, toilets and kitchens installed and furniture delivered. The basement underwent fire safety upgrades. But all that investment is now up in the air after the Department of Justice confirmed to the Irish Examiner last Thursday that the building is no longer being considered for use as an IPAS centre. It declined to confirm when the decision was made, or to explain why the building was no longer deemed suitable. 'Details of individual property appraisals are confidential,' a spokesperson said. While the ground and first floor of 23-25 South Terrace were previously offices, and unoccupied for some time, there are 22 residential apartments on the upper floors. Picture: Noel Sweeney 'Many properties are not approved for use as international protection accommodation often for reasons relating to planning or suitability of the site. Any investment in the property offered to the department through this process remains the responsibility of the provider.' The developer did not respond to requests for comment. Mr O'Flynn said he has some sympathy for the developers who it appears are now left out of pocket but he said the saga proves the need for a root-and-branch review of how the State sources and secures IPAS accommodation. Some of the former office space at 23-25 South Terrace was converted into bedrooms. 'A lot of this could have been avoided if the department was open and upfront with people,' he said. 'There are rumours now about every unoccupied building. My office is inundated on Monday mornings with calls from people who have heard the latest rumour about these buildings in the pubs over the weekend.' Read More Report finds unvetted staff and overcrowding in asylum seeker accommodation
Sunday World
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Sunday World
Conor McGregor claims plans for mega-mansion would have got permission if for immigrants
The online planning records show the appeal was refused on Monday after being lodged in February this year. CONOR McGregor took to social media today to complain that his mega mansion would have got planning permission if it was a centre for immigrants. He stated incorrectly on X this evening that International Protection Accommodation Service centres do not need planning permission. Quoting an article about the decision against by An Coimisiún Pleanála he wrote: 'If it was to be an IPAS centre I wouldn't even need planning.' The plans for the sprawling family home were shot down by the appeals board in a decision published today. He had appealed a decision by Kildare Co Council to refuse his spectacular plans to rebuild his home in Straffan. The online planning records show the appeal was refused on Monday after being lodged in February this year. The decision by the planning commission to refuse permission came despite an inspector's report recommending giving the plans the go ahead with some conditions attached. The council had previously refused permission for the six-bedroomed 32,693sq ft house on the grounds it was 'excessive' and 'visually incongruous'. The council had written to McGregor requesting further information on his plans and outlined some of its issues with his application. Concerns were expressed over the size and scale of the development in the rural area which isn't consistent with the council's design for rural houses. Conor McGregor. Photo: Collins News in 90 Seconds - Thursday, July 3 The council also stated that the site for the property's Waste Water Treatment System is 'unsuitable' for various reasons. It had said a new plan must also comply with rural house design guidelines by designing buildings that are 'restrained and absent of fussy add-ons or frills' and not include unnecessarily large rooms 'that are rarely used, which will increase area, cost and bulk'. A submission lodged on behalf of McGregor in January stated that the site 'has the capacity to comfortably absorb the proposed dwelling without resulting in any undue impacts of dis-amenity to surrounding residents'. This was followed by Kildare Co Council's decision to refuse which was then appealed by McGregor to An Bord Pleanala. McGregor paid €3 million for the existing house at The Paddocks and later bought the nearby 5 Castledillon Lower, Straffan, Co. Kildare for €1.65 million according to the Price Property Register. Guests arriving at the planned house would have been greeted with a view of the basement swimming pool through a glass floor in the reception hall According to the plans lodged in the initial application, one wing of the house would have be an open-plan dining and living room area that opened onto a covered terrace leading to an outdoor swimming pool. There was also a playroom and a chef's kitchen, pantry, cloakroom as well as a more private dining room on that side of the house. The sunken basement where the 20-metre long indoor was planned there were also plans for a 14-seater cinema. The basement was where a gym was to be located along with a jacuzzi, a dry and wet sauna as well as a treatment room. Up a curving double staircase led to where the first-floor bedrooms would have been including a 'master suite' which took up one entire side of the house. In the planning application's design statement by Tyler Owens Architects it was stated that McGregor's existing house is 'substandard in its construction'. It noted the styles and sizes of some of the local properties in the vicinity such as Straffan Lodge and The K Club, adding: 'We believe our proposal is suitable for the size of the site, and the local character of these buildings indicated'.
Sunday World
23-06-2025
- Sunday World
Gavin Duffy denies claim that he owns IPAS centre in Meath
In a video posted to X, Mr Duffy described the video as making 'totally erroneous, false and untrue statements'. Gavin Duffy, the former Dragon's Den star, has posted a video in response to the claim that he owns an International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centre in Meath. The 65-year-old has so far been unsuccessful in his petitioning of Facebook to remove a video which shows a man approach the centre, read a site notice posted at the entrance and approach a staff member all while claiming Duffy owns the centre. The site notice lists the Whearty Brothers as planning applicants. In a video posted to X, Mr Duffy described the video as making 'totally erroneous, false and untrue statements'. "I'm just back from a family holiday and towards the end of it kind and concerned neighbours and friends were contacting me about a post on Facebook,' he said. 'The type of public life I've been lucky enough to live, you do grow a thick skin. I am not frightened by false accusations of cowards who hide behind cameras and keyboards. But I also know if I don't get this taken down it festers. "So I need your help if you know the person who made and posted the original video, please advise them to delete it immediately.' Duffy has previously been the victim of false claims online. In 2020, an apparent click-bait scam announced his death across social media. Gavin Duffy News in 90 Seconds - Monday June 23 When clicked on, the links took users to a Bitcoin business, alleging that entrepreneur Mr Duffy had made money from it. This reportedly led to a number of people losing hundreds of euros. In 2021, a legal dispute between the Louth man and Facebook was resolved after he requested it desist from taking revenue from this advertising. In a joint statement after the resolution, Duffy and Facebook Ireland said they had 'resolved an issue regarding ads containing misleading and inaccurate statements about Mr Duffy, which were published on Facebook by malicious third parties'. In a video message at the time, Duffy said both parties had agreed to work together to address any further misleading and inaccurate advertisements relating to him, in the event they should reappear on the social media platform.
Irish Independent
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Gardaí keep rival protest marches apart on streets of Dublin
O'Connell Bridge was closed for a time yesterday afternoon to accommodate the marches. The United Against Racism rally began at the Central Plaza on Dame Street, marching through the city to O'Connell Bridge at around 2pm. Several protesters carried signs saying: 'Blame the Government, not migrants',and: 'Dublin stands against racism'. They also chanted: 'Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here.' The anti-immigration protest marched down O'Connell Street and turned left at O'Connell Bridge before continuing along the quays. Participants from both sides shouted and gestured towards each other from across the empty space between the barriers created by gardaí. At one point, the anti-racism rally chanted at the anti-immigration group: 'You say protect women, that's a lie' and referenced a photo being carried by one person of MMA fighter Conor McGregor, who lost a civil trial where a Dublin woman accused him of raping her in a Dublin hotel. The anti-immigration group, which was the larger of the two, was thick with large Tricolour flags. It chanted 'ole ole' and, 'Whose streets? Our streets'. Several people were seen wearing 'Make Ireland Great Again' green caps and holding US or 'Trump' flags, and some signs critical of RTÉ. There was an extensive garda presence at the location where the two protest groups were due to cross paths. One mother said she and her eight-year-old attended the anti-racism protest as there was an anti-immigration demonstration being held close to her daughter's school. ADVERTISEMENT She said the group are camped beside the primary school every day over a nearby International Protection Accommodation Service (Ipas) centre, which has been there since 2022. 'We want to just come down and show our support for all of the people who go to her school who are migrants, or who have migrant parents,' the woman said, who asked that she not be named. 'We want to pass the message over to the other side that this is unacceptable for Ireland today, especially for the youth to have to put up with this type of environment. 'It's been extremely upsetting for the children and the families.'
Irish Independent
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Eoin O'Malley: CityWest deal shows the State is in the asylum business for the long haul, but the opposite approach is working for Denmark
The Danes are pursuing a 'zero refugee' policy and is sending out a strong message about how tough its rules are Today at 21:30 If we were to choose a monument to Irish policy failure, we could do worse than to pick the Citywest Hotel. The Government last week authorised the purchase of the hotel in Saggart, Co Dublin, to become a state-owned International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centre for asylum-seekers. Citywest was built by businessman Jim Mansfield, who borrowed heavily to expand it to become one of the largest hotels in Europe. It became host to some large events. All-Ireland champions partied there after victory. It was where the Fianna Fáil faithful gathered when the party was in its heyday. The faux-Georgian hotel seemed to symbolise Celtic Tiger excess and hubris.
