Wicklow appears to be an increasing target for the placing of accommodation centres to house persons claiming asylum under the responsibility of IPAS, and also for the installation and proposed installation of tented accommodation for Ukrainians who have been granted Temporary Protection.
Concern has been expressed by local representatives and residents regarding the use of a significant number of premises and sites in Baltinglass and around Dunlavin.
Among those who have raised this matter are Fine Gael County Councillor, Edward Timmins ,who contacted Minister Roderick O’Gorman’s office in relation to “the ongoing buying of properties in the Baltinglass (Edward Street and Mill Street) and using them as accommodation for refugees.”
Councillor Timmins informed the Minister of local concerns that “no explanations (were) given on how the huge cost paid to the accommodation providers is calculated,” nor as to “what strategy is in place as regards limits.” He referred to O’Gorman’s general reference to the state’s “obligation under international law” but that he had made no mention as to “how loose we are dealing with the issue compared to other countries.”
Timmins has let it be known that he had “received no reply” from Minister O’Gorman.
In an email sent on April 17, the Community Engagement Team of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) informed Wicklow TDs, Senators and County Councillors that the Department intended to commence use of Dunlavin House and Tynte House, Dunlavin “to provide temporary shelter to International Protection applicants”.
The email of April 17 also refers to the provision of accommodation at Trudder (River Lodge) which was last night the scene of a controversial Garda intervention against ongoing protests, as reported by Gript reporter Fatima Gunning.
The Department informed local representatives, who had largely been in the dark, regarding the plans to erect tents at River Lodge to accommodate 160 persons.
The sites in Baltinglass about which local residents have made their concerns known and to which Councillor Timmins refers are as follows:
- Large Public House premises formerly owned by Pamela McDonagh on Edward St.
- Public House formerly known as The Dutchman’s on Edward St. (Former owner unknown).
- Large four story premises on Mill St. formally a Centra supermarket, formerly by John Fleming.
- Large shop unit and former newsagent on Mill St. formerly owned by Mary McDonagh.
- Shop unit/ IT repair shop owned by Des Doran (sale in process)
- Large double office commercial property on Mill St, formally owned by Peter and Nicola Morrin.
A resident of Baltinglass informed Gript that they believe that all of those properties have been bought by a developer based in Cork but, despite extensive inquiries, Gript has been unable to confirm for certain the identity of the developer in question. That the properties concerned appear to be have been designated for use as IPAS accommodation seems to be apparent.
On Tuesday, April 23, a resident of Baltinglass, who had contacted the Planning Section of Wicklow County Council in relation to the sites in question and any planning permissions granted, was informed of “certain exemptions in relation to the change of use from vacant commercial premises to residential use and also in relation to the change of use of certain specified structures for the purpose of providing the necessary facilities and accommodation for international protection applicants.”
If a development falls under these exemptions they do not need to obtain planning permission,” the County Council said.
The exemptions in question fall under Article 10 (6) of the Planning and Development Regulations, 2001 to 2021 which allow for “notifications to the Planning Authority of the intention to avail of exempted development to change of use from vacant commercial premises to residential use.”
Wicklow County Council is obliged under Article 10(6)(e) to keep a record of such notifications on the Planning Authority website and that register is available to view on the link HERE.
The Baltinglass resident who made the inquiry regarding the premises listed in the town was informed that “some of the properties you refer to are included in the Register.”
They were also referred to Statutory Instrument no. 376 (2023) which allows for exemptions from normal planning guidelines for the “the change of use of certain specified structures for the purpose of providing the necessary facilities and accommodation for international protection applicants.
These regulations permit the change of use of certain structures for the purpose of providing the necessary facilities for international protection applicants.”
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In other words, the kakistocracy are breaking the law of the land again to facilitate the kalergi plan under the lies of international and moral obligations to wipe the native population out. Gotta wonder about the sanity of the people who signed us up to international obligations to wipe us out.
Why did the Gardai agree to provide security for a private developer to breach an agreement made with local residents to suspend works at Newtownmountkennedy pending a promised meeting to be held with those residents next Monday ? It would have been very obvious to them that the breach of the agreement could in turn lead to a breach of the peace? Why did Garda management not refuse on the basis that that the least provocative course was to engage with the residents on Monday as promised?
The residents have some very legitimate concerns not least of which are the actual ownership of the site and the legality of its proposed use as an accommodation center.
Why did the operation to commence work need to take place under cover of darkness at 2am in the morning? If you believe that what you are doing is right , moral , and legal , you do not need to attempt to do it clandestinely, under cover of darkness , with massive police protection. Again why did the Gardai agree to facilitate such a suspicious looking , and consequently very provocative, plan?
The whole approach to the commencement of work has been so provocative that the provocation has to have been either deliberate, or as a result of mindless incompetence. The Gardai would have had to have been aware of the provocative nature of the optics and of the sense of betrayal vis-à-vis the commencement of work prior to the proposed meeting . Were they ordered to participate in this, against their better judgement by someone in government?
There are a lot of questions associated with the handling of the situation at Newtownmountkennedy but there are only two potential conclusions. Either this was a deliberate provocation of the local residents to facilitate the show of force as an example to every other town and village in the country, or it was a complete , incompetent, shambles . Either way the events and decision making leading up to the situation that arose last night need to be analysed and scrutinised and politicians cannot be let off the hook in soft ball interviews with a ‘ Government and Gardai good ; protesters bad ‘ infant class storyline .
Deliberate provocation without a doubt. Pour encourager les autres.
No words can describe this government’s profiteering, at the expense of the safety of good and decent citizens.
May 6th folks, Garden of remembrance. Dublin.
As far as i am aware anyone from the 25 other counties cannot buy a plot and get planning permission to build in wicklow. How is it that the rules around planning are not enforced for ipas?
O’Gorman is a dangerous radical who should never have gotten near government. He is at the root of nearly everything that is causing mayhem in the country. Why does he get such an easy ride. Nothing will change while he is in power, he is basically running the whole government as they are all consumed with the disasters he creates.
Equal Status Act, 2000 S3.(2)d
Such a true statement, Dave, a dangerous radical creating mayhem. Gorman is an anarchist.
Is he not a little to the deviant side? Asking for a friend.
👍👍👍
I live in West Wicklow and I am wondering why there aren’t more IPAS centres in East Wicklow, where there are more amenities, better transport, more infrastructure, easier access to medical facilities etc. There again, that’s where all the local TDs, including Mr Harris, live.
There should be none in either side of the county.
• 90% of Ukraine is safe, some ‘refugees’ had holidays back there for Christmas, others are renting out their houses back home to other Ukranians
• About the same percentage of ‘international protection’/’asylum’ applicants are from safe countries and shouldn’t be here at all.
&
• Under our ‘international obligations’ (which don’t really exist – they are all voluntary agreements) Ireland is not obliged to take any who have arrived in any safe state before getting here. Which is all of them.
The Geneva Convention was to allow refugees emergency sanctuary at the first safe state they could travel to, and only then for so long as was necessary. Denmark, for instance, is now sending Syrians home. Most e.u. countries are giving ukranians temporary protection-residency; the Irish government in contrast said straight from the beginning that they could live here forever.
The thing that has to be realised is that what is happening has nothing to do with wars, asylum, etc.
It is a permanent immigration policy into europe and Ireland – which has international financial and anti-independence (i.e., Nation States) interests behind it, but largely, so far as Ireland is concerned, it was designed without democratic mandate by the European Commission and then is carried out by the Irish government parties on their behalf.
And supported by almost all of the ‘opposition’, including especially Sinn Féin
They’re adding climate-change migration into the mix now, nice catch-all brain-washing
In my local pub in tipperary I met a about 10 very young Ukranians, just arrived. I asked them would they be returning no way we are here to stay.
I welcome all young men of military age who don’t want to end their lives in a body bag.
Surely you do expect Simple Simon to live with the dregs of the earth. What a snob you are.
There’s is only one doctor surgery in baltinglass, where two doctors run the weavers sq practice. It’s impossible to get an appointment, the only option is to go to care doctor in Carlow A&E.