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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:
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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