Laois publican contends new IPAS plan addresses previous concerns
A decision on the new planning application at Lennon's pub, Durrow is due by 10 December. File photo
A NEW planning application for IPAS accommodation at Lennon’s Bar in Durrow includes changes that address previous concerns, according to a report submitted on behalf of publican Marc Lennon.
The planning report compiled by Robert Nowlan, of consultants RW Nowlan & Associates, contends that issues regarding social infrastructure and the standard of accommodation have been resolved in the new application.
A decision on the latest application for Lennon’s Bar on Mary Street, which was lodged with Laois Co Council on 16 October, is due on or before 10 December.
A previous bid to convert Lennon’s Bar into IPAS use was granted by Laois Co Council last March but was overturned in August, following an appeal to An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP). The ACP refusal followed strong local opposition, led by Durrow Community Council (DCC), which included packed public meetings at the town’s Castle Arms Hotel.
Mr Lennon originally received planning permission from the county council for the development at Lennon’s, as well as retention planning permission for an existing guesthouse in the adjacent Peadar’s Bar. The plans would have provided facilities for about 60 residents, with each pub having capacity for about 30 beds. The new application is for Lennon’s only, with 33 spaces.
The Nowlan report was submitted to Laois Co Council, together with the new planning application on behalf of Mr Lennon.
The Dublin-based planning consultant’s report points out that a previous application for Lennon’s Bar, along with a retention application for the adjacent Peadar’s Bar, was approved by Laois Co Council in March 2026.
The Nowlan report states: ‘Both applications were permitted by Laois Co Council but appealed by a third party to An Coimisiún Pleanála. The inspector in An Coimisiún Pleanála recommended that permission for Lennon’s Bar would be upheld while Peadar’s Bar should be refused. Unfortunately, the final order of An Coimisiún Pleanála was to refuse both applications.’
The report also contends that concerns over the standard of accommodation have been addressed in the new plan for Lennon’s Bar, together with concerns regarding limited social infrastructure.
The report states: ‘A Social Infrastructure Audit was conducted for the previous application. This audit has been revised to provide a more comprehensive and robust audit and the findings have been adjusted, as only Lennon’s Bar are applying for this change of use in order to bring the population change below the suggested 5 percent limit.’
The report concludes: ‘It is considered that the proposed use and location of the building in a Durrow town centre site will help provide a new use for this mostly vacant building. The town centre location will allow residents to use the local services and visit local businesses in the town. The addition of 33 residents to the town centre will sustainably add to the vitality of the town, without putting unnecessary strain on existing infrastructure.’
In opposing the previous application, residents, politicians and the DCC argued that the small heritage town, with a population of just 946 according to the last census in 2022, does not have the infrastructure and services needed to accommodate dozens of new residents, particularly in terms of traffic, public transport, policing and medical facilities.
Among the reasons for refusal last August, ACP said the layout as proposed ‘would result in substandard accommodation for future occupants and would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area’.
It also said that, in the absence of a ‘more comprehensive and robust audit of social, communal and educational facilities’, the ACP considered that ‘it had not been adequately demonstrated that sufficient social infrastructure exists to cater for the demand arising from the current proposal, in conjunction with other proposed facilities within Durrow’.
Even if planning permission is granted for the new Lennon’s plan, it would have to be contracted by the Department of Justice before it could provide International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) facilities.
Laois Senator Maria McCormack (SF) said last week that she requested an update from the department, in light of the new application. She said: ‘They confirmed that they are not examining these properties for use as IPAS. I will seek updates again once the planning decision has been made by the council.’
