A property owner in Tipperary town is adamant that he is not seeking to provide a facility for an IPAS centre to accommodate asylum seekers and has no intention of doing so.
Tipp Mid-West Radio contacted the property owner after planning documents revealed that an application had been made seeking clarification from Tipperary County Council about whether the creation of 15 bedrooms and Cooking/Dining/Recreation space/ would be considered “exempted development” if it was going to be used to provide accommodation for “displaced persons.” The application was made in July and Tipperary Council Planning office issued a declaration in August 2024 that it would be exempted from development as it was providing accommodation to “displaced persons” and would not require planning permission.
The project was being considered as a commercial option for the property as part of it is currently being used to accommodate 5 refugees from Ukraine alongside other tenants without any difficulties. The owner was considering modifying a large function room to host additional refugees from Ukraine. The property owner says the Department insisted that “NO discussions could take place without an IPAS declaration of Planning Exemption for the premises.” No application has been made or is pending regarding using the facility to accommodate Asylum seekers according to the property owner who adds that their “primary concern is for the safety of the existing residents and the security of the property itself going forward.”
Local Councillor Anne Marie Ryan says that moving vulnerable people into socially deprived areas has been shown to be a recipe for disaster and adds that the Government policy to allow what she calls “substandard accommodation to be used only enables some people to make money out of other people’s misfortune.” Cathaoirleach of Tipperary Cahir Cashel MD Cllr John Crosse, says he was unaware of the proposed development until contacted by Tipp Mid West Radio yesterday but did not see any reason why it might face opposition.
