Petition launched over vacant Wicklow IPAS centre that was scene of violence last year
The Wicklow PeopleA local TD has launched a petition calling on the government to hand over the site of the vacant emergency international protection accommodation centre at River Lodge in Newtownmountkennedy for community use.
The petition launched by Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow, John Brady, follows his recent questioning of Department of Justice officials at a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee that revealed that over €400,000 has already been spent on maintaining the site that now lies empty.
Violent scenes broke out in the area in April 2024 after workers contracted to carry out construction work on the former HSE facility attempted to enter the site.
Several people were arrested during clashes with public order gardai while three garda patrol cars were seriously damaged, and fires were set with more people currently appearing before the courts in relation to the incident.
The international protection applicants who were staying at the site have since been relocated to other locations and the building has been lying vacant for months, falling into a state of disrepair.
In a letter issued to the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee, the Department of Justice outlined it had spent “circa €400,000” on the site but that in December last year, residents had to be moved to alternative accommodation due to severe weather conditions.
Due to the impact of the weather, the department said, “it was not possible to continue using River Lodge as an emergency tented accommodation centre”.
Following a range of technical and financial assessments – with a particular focus on wastewater treatment infrastructure – “it was deemed not possible to move forward with such proposals”.
Options to repurpose the site were also considered.
The PAC were informed “the department is maintaining security on the site and there are no current plans to accommodate international protection applicants at this location”.
Deputy Brady believes the current situation is unsustainable in the long term.
“The Department has absolutely no plan for what they intend to do with River Lodge, all the while they maintain 24-hour security on a site that is empty and unused, and ceased operating as emergency accommodation in December 2024.
“The ongoing cost of providing security is not included in the over €400,000already wasted, but I am pressing the Department for answers regarding their expenditure on security at an empty site.”
“This is yet another unnecessary burden on the taxpayer and hard-pressed communities. This waste has gone on long enough.”
Deputy Brady is now launching this petition, calling on River Lodge to be returned to the community for suitable use, to help address the needs of the local community.
“From the outset of this project, government didn’t listen to repeated warnings from the local community and myself about the unsuitability of this site.
“Their approach was reckless and wasteful, and what has unfolded is an omnishambles of mismanagement.”
“Perhaps government will listen now and finally bring this saga to an end by returning River Lodge to the local community.” he added.