Latest news with #InternationalProtectionApplicants
Irish Independent
18 hours ago
- Business
- 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".
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- General
- Irish Independent
Tipperary property will not become IPAS centre despite change of use application
A Section 5 planning exemption has been submitted to Tipperary County Council for a property on the Old Road in Cashel, with rumours spreading on social media that the property is to be used as accommodation for International Protection Applicants. Taking to his own social media page, Cashel councillor Liam Browne has moved to clarify that there are no plans to build or develop an IPAS centre at the Old Road property. "The application is seeking to change the use of an existing residential house, to a residential care facility. Nothing new will be built on the site, without a full planning application,' Cllr Browne outlined. The change of use application states that the applicants are applying for 'a declaration of exempted development … regarding the change of use from residential to provide a residential care facility for children at risk, including those with learning difficulties.' "The number of residents will not exceed six, and the number of carers will not exceed two,' the planning file states. 'The new owners of the building, are a company called Odyssey Social Care. They provide care to children with physical, mental and learning disabilities," Mr Browne added. "The current proposal is to provide such care at the property. The occupants would only be children, ie, under 18, and the maximum number of children would be 6, with 2 carers". Tipperary County Council have written to the applicants to ensure that only children with disabilities will be housed at the site, and not anyone else. Odyssey Social Care do provide care for unaccompanied minors within the International Protection system, but it is not thought that the Cashel site would be used for this purpose, Cllr Browne added.
Irish Independent
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Newly co-opted Roscommon pays tribute to his predecessor and wants public amenity named in his honour
The Independent was co-opted onto Roscommon County Council in place of the late Anthony Waldron, who passed away in February. He was 64. Mr Holland secured thirteen of the seventeen councillors' votes at the expense of Gail Murray, who received three votes from Independent councillors Valerie Byrne and Tony Ward, and Sinn Féin's Leah Cull. A third candidate, Ernie Draper, received no votes. A fourth nominee, Mairead Kenny, withdrew her nomination on May 21. Roscommon County Council is controlled by a power sharing alliance comprising five Fianna Fáil, four Fine Gael and three Independent councillors. All twelve had agreed to vote for Mr Holland before Monday's special meeting of the council. Independent Ireland councillor Nigel Dineen abstained from the vote. Mr Holland said he would dedicate himself full-time to his role as a county councillor. He is the third new councillor to take his seat in the council chamber in as many months. In his maiden address to the council chamber, Cllr Holland paid tribute to his lifelong friend Anthony Waldron and promised to continue his work as a councillor. 'I will do everything in my power to fill Tony's boots,' he told Shannonside FM after his co-option. Cllr Holland asked that a jetty and a park be named in honour of the late councillor – which was formally proposed by Independent councillor Tom Crosby. The late Cllr Waldron, who lived in Ballintubber, County Roscommon, but hailed from Aghamore in County Mayo, served two terms as a councillor, between 2004 and 2009 and between 2019 and February 2025. A moment's silence in Cllr Waldron's memory was observed following a proposal by Roscommon County Council Cathaoirleach, Paschal Fitzmaurice. Meanwhile Cllr Holland labelled reports linking him with a proposed IPAS centre in Roscommon town as 'hurtful', adding that he had 'no hand, act or part with it'. Noel Whelan has applied to An Bord Pleanála for permission to use Academy House on Goff Street to accommodate International Protection Applicants under a Class 20F exemption. An online petition against the proposal has attracted over 300 signatures and opposition from some elected representatives. The case is to be determined before August 18.
The Journal
13-05-2025
- General
- The Journal
Water safety boss calls for new measures after teens' deaths in Buncrana
THE STATE WATER safety agency has urged the Government to contact IPAS centres in order to offer educational resources following the tragic death of two teenagers who died after getting into difficulty swimming off the coast of Buncrana in Co Donegal. It comes as local politicians and organisations have raised the need for water safety awareness among people living in International Protection accommodation, with one community worker stressing that many living in these centres come from landlocked countries, or far away from coastlines. There is currently no lifeguard on any of Buncrana's five beaches since Lisfannon lost its Blue Flag status, the local swimming pool has been closed for the last ten years, and children living in IPAS centres cannot cross the border to attend swimming lessons in Derry – a common practice for other schoolchildren in the county. The CEO of Water Safety Ireland has told The Journal that she has written to IPAS services requesting that they send information packs and safety course supplies to centres nationwide. As teachers typically use these to teach children in schools about water safety, the service has been asked how it plans to provide the information to people living in centres. 'Everyone knows not to go left at Ned's Point' The treacherous nature of the undercurrents in one section of the sea accessible from Ned's Corner, where the two young men entered the water, is well known within the local community. The Swilly swimmers – a group with 40-50 members – set out at the crack of dawn to swim at Ned's point most weekday mornings. They don't swim around the rocks to the left where the undercurrent can be treacherous. That's common local knowledge, but there was no way for Emmanuel Familola (16) who came here only a couple of years ago with his family from Nigeria, and Matt Sibanda (18) who came with his from landlocked Zimbabwe to know it. Luke Mullins runs the Inishowen Surf School. 'There is signage in the area warning that it could be dangerous for swimming, but it's not on every lamppost – maybe you'd need to be looking for it to see it,' he said. 'That isn't an area people are coming from wide and far to swim in, it would be local people who know the waters. It's basically a funnel in that section of the water, the tide came back in and swept them up. The tide has a serious pull. You wouldn't see it from the pier, but you'd feel it once you were in the water,' he added. 'We have to find a way to communicate that kind of thing to people living in IPAS centres,' said Paul Kernan, who works with the Donegal Intercultural Program, which offers independent advocacy and advice to International Protection Applicants. Kernan was familiar with the two boys who lost their lives and their families, as well as the third boy who managed to swim ashore, and survived. His organisation works with people living in all 30 IPAS accommodation centres in Donegal. 'Some people are leaving dense urban areas to a place like Donegal, with a huge coastline. Swimming in a pool is not the same as the sea, but it's a start, and it's a place where conversations about water safety take place. The local pool in Buncrana has been boarded up for ten years – and though locals campaigned for it to be reopened – it missed out on Government funding again in 2024.' Kernan said that a lack of access to swimming lessons or facilities is an issue facing refugees in the county beyond the Buncrana area. 'Some of the schools do swimming lessons in Derry, and we're aware that in those cases children who are IPAS residents haven't been able to take part, because they are not allowed to cross the border,' he said. Paul said that his organisation is continuing to support the families, and that a group of Zimbabweans, who didn't know the families, arranged to travel from Letterkenny to Buncrana over the weekend to offer their support. He added that though there have been anti-refugee protests in the area, including an arson attack on a proposed accommodation site, since the tragedy, people have banded together to try and support the refugee community and the boy's families. Advertisement 'Darkness descended' 'It was very innocent, what happened,' said local councillor Fionán Bradley. 'Emmanuel, Matt, and a third boy went out to play football at the green area in Ned's Point on Saturday. Their ball went into the water, and all three decided to swim out after it. 'The tide was quite far out. By the time they got to the ball, and looked back, they realised that they had swam further than they'd realised. One of the boys pointed out a strip of sand across the way – a beach – and suggested they swim to that. 'Water is deceptive when you are in it, it's hard to know how far a distance really is. And in those cold waters, it would have been extremely difficult to make it to the sand.' Bradley, who is also a teacher, taught the younger of the boys who passed away after getting into difficulty swimming – Emmanuel Familola (16), who came to Ireland with his family from Nigeria. The alarm was raised by a member of the public around 4pm, after the boys had entered the water. The Malin Head Coast Guard led a massive multi-agency search that lasted into the night. Emmanuel was rescued from the water and rushed to Letterkenny University Hospital where doctors worked desperately to save him – but he passed away overnight. Matt Sibanda's body was removed from the water just after 9pm. He was pronounced dead. Throughout the search, family members, friends, school mates and football club team mates lined the pier, waiting for news. At Sunday mass, Father Francis Brady recalled seeing one of the boy's mothers crying over his body, saying his name again and again. 'Saturday was a perfect day. The primary schools had Holy Communions on, there was a wedding in the town, Donegal were in the Ulster Football Final. Ned's Point would have been thronged. Then the news broke out in the late afternoon, about the search operation, what had happened to the boys, and darkness descended on us. It was still sunny, but it felt dark. It's been like that since,' councillor Bradley said. In the wake of the tragedy, he's been thinking about how incidents like this could be avoided in the future. 'When we had a lifeguard on one of the beaches, it meant people congregated on that beach – Lisfannon. I'm not saying that could have made a difference, or changed anything. 'But going forward, Buncrana is one of the most popular spots between Derry and Donegal, it ought to have a beach with a lifeguard, by pure coincidence that was raised at the last council meeting here, and there will be a real push for it now,' he said. 'It was hard not to cry in that church' Yesterday afternoon Bishop Donal Mckeown led a 'vigil for hope' at St Mary's Oratory Church. He said that over one thousand people gathered to support each other, 'people were in the aisles, out of the doors, and in the carpark,' he added. He said that people impacted by other tragedies in the area, including those who had lost children in the water, and some from the Creeslough community, came to lend their support, and to process their own feelings. 'It was retraumatising for many people, they relived the losses they themselves have been through' Bishop Mckeown said. However, he added that it was incredible to see how the community banded together. 'Buncrana has found the strength to welcome people who have joined their community and support them, and that is vital,' he said. Water Safety Ireland offered its condolences to the family and friends of Emmanuel Familola and Matt Sibanda. Its advice on staying safe while swimming this summer is available here. The IPAS service within the Department of Children has been contacted for comment. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. 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Irish Independent
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Councillor condemns ‘totally unacceptable' protest outside his family home over Bundoran IPAS centre
On Saturday evening, a group of protestors marched through Bundoran, stopping at Sinn Féin Cllr Michael McMahon's office, which is located in his family home. The group, who were carrying tri-colours, called for Cllr McMahon to come out on to the street. However, he was at the Ulster Final in Clones at the time and the protestors were met by his wife and children. The protest was organised by those opposed to the accommodation of International Protection Applicants at a local guesthouse. The Department of Justice has confirmed a new International Protection Applicants Centre has been approved at The Viscount, Bayview Avenue, Bundoran. The building has the capacity for 70 people in 21 rooms and it is believed it will be for families and couples seeking international protection. The contract has been signed for one year. The property has previously been contracted to the Department to provide accommodation for Ukrainian citizens. Speaking to Ocean FM, Cllr Michael McMahon said everyone has a right to protest but he felt the protest was aimed against him and his family. He said his wife and daughter felt threatened as the group gathered outside their home. "They came up the street and stood outside my house shouting obscenities to my wife and children. ADVERTISEMENT "This has nothing to do with what they stand for because nobody really knows what they stand for. "I wasn't there, I was at the Ulster final in Clones but they shouted obscenities and nasty stuff to my children, my grandchildren and my great grandchildren. "This is a house, a private residence. "My wife confronted them and told them what was going on and so did one of my daughters. "These are the very people who are saying we need to protect our wives and our families but they came to my house with vengeance. "A young crowd of people. "What is this all about? Why did they do this to me? "I am very supportive of all people irrespective of creed or class,' said Cllr McMahon. Organisers of the protest claim they have attempted to liaise with Cllr McMahon about the plans for the IPAS centre but he has not been forthcoming. In footage of the incident online, the group can be seen outside the property carrying tri-colours and chanting 'Sinn Féin are traitors'. Members of Cllr McMahon's family spoke to individuals in the group and told them, 'he is not the government' and 'he is one man.' Cllr McMahon said he has spoken out about the IPAS centre and the lack of resources and services available in the town. "I have been working on this from day one and working very hard for the people of Bundoran and the surrounding areas. "The one thing I will say is people have the right to protest but when the organisers said they were coming up to my house, a lot of people who do have concerns, did not come up to the house. "They dropped out and said they would not go to anyone's house and I thank them for that, it is much appreciated,' said Cllr McMahon. He added that the actions of the protestors were 'totally unacceptable.' "The intimidation that they done on my family with me not being there is totally unacceptable,' said Cllr McMahon. Cllr McMahon said his wife, who he described as resilient, was left frightened by the incident. He said he will not be intimidated by the protestors and will continue to work for the people of Bundoran. 'I am standing up for the people of the Bundoran, working for the people of Bundoran and the surrounding areas. "I do the work and I am very proud of it. "The government haven't handled this situation well. They should have contacted the people. "During the general election, they said there would be community groups and meetings with the community and that has not happened. "I will not tolerate anyone outside my door interfering with my family when I am not there. "They are the cowards,' said Cllr McMahon.
