Laois councillors call for withdrawal of planning exemptions for IPAS centres

COUNCILLORS in Laois have called on the Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan to withdraw all planning exemptions for properties accommodating International Protection Applicants in Laois, which they said would ensure that all properties go through the normal planning process.

They also called on the Community Engagement Team in the Department of Justice to engage with communities prior to signing of contracts for IPAS centres in their areas.

Cllr Conor Bergin said the exemption was introduced in 2022 as a response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis. The exemption allows for the rapid conversion of certain buildings, offices, hotels and community centres into accommodation for international protection applicants without requiring full planning permission.

He said: “The exemption was due to expire last September 2024 but has been extended. The motion is calling on the Government to remove the exemption immediately.” 

 “The arguments we’re making in removing the exemptions are that the exemptions by-pass the normal planning process. That if a premises is to be converted to accommodation for international protection applicants. It by-passes the normal planning application process and no right for people to make their views known. It’s done immediately overnight. The communities are often unaware of the developments until after the contracts are signed. It leads to mistrust and undermines the faith in the planning system. It also overrides local development plans sometimes. We as councillors are over-ridden as well.” 

He said: We’ve seen around the county where there’s a sudden introduction of accommodation centre, it puts a strain on local services and infrastructure with no consultation with the local communities. Everyone who makes a planning application should be subject to the same rules regardless of whether its for International protection, a house or a business. No one should be exempt and should not be able to get around it.

“Sometimes in the absence of dialogue, that when misinformation gets out and that’s when you have fear. Communities can offer insights to suitable locations and consultation involves residents into the process as well and makes integration more smoothly.” 

Cllr Aidan Mullins says its well-known the consequences of the exemptions, “towns across Ireland are being forced to accommodate large numbers of asylum seekers. They’re mostly young men who are being forced into small towns. With no consultation at all it leads to many towns suffering from lack of services, GPs, school places and a shortage of housing. It’s causing concern, division and anger in the communities. Many people also express safety concerns. It’s damaging social cohesion in the towns and villages.

“Local authorities have no say in the process of the planning perspective and local communities don’t have the opportunity to make submissions or feed into the process. I think it’s riding roughshod over communities. It shows that the current immigration policies are a shambles.

“This has become a billion-euro industry and they’re converting all types of buildings, not just hotels into IPAS centres. In Portarlington the only local hotel was used to house large numbers of asylum seekers before IPAS entered a contract with it. They’ve also put large numbers of migrants in apartments and private houses around the town. So, we’ve lost the East End Hotel, The Hazel and the Montague Hotel to asylum seekers. This must stop. Our own people must be prioritised.” 

Cllr Mullins said that if the motion before the local councillors is accepted, Laois will be in lockstep with Meath, Westmeath and Kilkenny County Councils who have already called for the withdrawal of all planning exemptions for properties accommodating International Protection Applicants.

Cllr John King agreed with the two previous speakers.

He said regarding the IPAS centre in Rathdowney: “It was a hotel at one stage that was changed into a restaurant. We never knew that it would be an IPAS centre until they all arrived. Like all small towns there wasn’t enough services but lucky enough the schools could cater for some of their children. But it’s not fair on communities. Those providing this type of accommodation are getting serious amount of money.” 

Cllr James Kelly said: “These applications cause confusion, stress and worry on local areas. I’d say that democracy and the planning process has been completely usurped and ignored. Then there’s the capacity of health centres, schools, the parking, traffic and community centres. What I find very disappointed was when Dublin City Council voted this call down. Only two independent councillors voted for the exemption to be removed. Gavin Pepper proposed it and another councillor seconded it.” 

Cllr Ollie Clooney also supported the call to remove the exemption.

He said: “We spent the summer dealing with this in Durrow and it hasn’t gone away yet. To get 400 people into a hall, takes some doing, but that’s what happened in Durrow. That shows you the felling in rural areas.” 

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley said she also supports the motions to remove the exemption.

She said: “We need a proper process in place that if people are not entitled to be here, they should be sent back. But the problem with that is that they’re not even checking, we don’t know where those people are. They’re coming into the country and are here for years, before a letter is sent out to them to say that they were or were not successful in their applications for asylum. I’d like to see these people processed in three months and if they’re not entitled to be in the country that they’re sent back. If they’re not allowed to be here, they should be sent home. I’ve seen in recent times where families were asked to leave the country and we had the do-gooders looking to have them kept in the country, because their children might need an education. If you’re not supposed to be here, you need to go home. You wouldn’t get away with that in any other country.” 

Cllr Tommy Mulligan said: “This issue has bamboozled me for years. We’ve had Direct Provision Centres for well over 20-years and still the Government can’t get a hold of it. For the past few years, we have been overwhelmed because we hadn’t got proper plans in place. We can’t continue going rudderless without a plan of how we address people coming into the country. That’s what’s leading to all the anger and the right-wing, the lack of planning.” 

Cllr Aisling Moran said that it was up to Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil councillors around the country to “make a stand,” on the issue and to contact their leaders in Government if any change will be made to withdraw the exemption.

Cathaoirleach of the council cllr Barry Walsh said a letter will be issued to the Minister for Justice regarding the motions that was raised at the September meeting of Laois County Council.