Meath County Council rejects second IPAS centre planning exemption in Trim
The latest decision concerns a premises at Fairgreen on Summerhill Road, where Secure Accommodation Management Ltd applied for a declaration of exempted development to house up to 180 international protection applicants. The council ruled that the conversion of the Fairgreen unit into an IPAS centre would not qualify as exempted development, meaning full planning permission is required.
This is the second rejection in recent weeks. A similar application for an IPAS centre at the Oaktree Business Park was also turned down by the local authority last month. Both proposed developments have sparked local concern, particularly regarding the suitability of industrial units for residential accommodation, and the lack of public consultation in the exemption application process.
Cathaoirleach of Trim Municipal District, Councillor Ronan Moore welcomed both decisions and said of the Fairgreen proposal: 'I believe this exemption was not going to succeed too. They were never suitable for people to live in.'
'What seems to be motivating the sourcing of sites for IPAs accommodation is not for the benefits of people seeking refuge but actually for profit.'
'People are also unaware of these applications until they are being made and that's causing a lot of anger, frustration, worry and concerns, much of which is understandable but what that also does is attract a small and vocal minority who uses this opportunity to spread ill-willed and racist sentiments. And it's not who we are as a people,' he said.
Mr Moore added that the government needs to change their approach on dealing with people seeking international protection.
'The government's approach needs to change, they have to take responsibility in sourcing these centres themselves. They have to do consultations with people to bring them along to make sure this is done correctly and humanely for people going into the international protection system.'
Meanwhile Councillor Noel French said: "Hopefully this ends this horrible period of people's fears and anxiety. This means that the applicants have to apply for planning permission and open up a decision to people and councillors to have their say. In most cases applicants like this just walk away after upsetting whole communities.'
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