Wicklow holiday village investigated for planning breaches still getting funding for asylum seekers

By Hugh O'Farrell Walsh, The Wicklow People

Department of Justice officials have confirmed that a holiday village in Wicklow, currently under investigation over claims of planning breaches, remains under contract to provide accommodation for those seeking international protection.

David Delaney, who is head of international protection and integration, clarified the situation during a recent meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), where the discussion focused on the intersection of multi-million-euro state payments to the provider and an associated high-profile planning dispute.

Mr Delaney stated that the facility will continue to be used until relevant legal proceedings are concluded.

The Department maintains that the planning issues—which involve 65 structures allegedly built without permission—relate to parts of the property not currently contracted for IPAS accommodation.

Officials have previously emphasised that regulatory matters, including planning and enforcement, are strictly between the local authority (Wicklow County Council) and the private provider (Seefin Events Unlimited).

PAC chair and Wicklow TD John Brady used the Kippure case to challenge officials, describing it as a "microcosm" of a flawed system where "one arm of the state gives out millions... while another arm takes them to the High Court”.

Officials acknowledged the pressure on accommodation availability, but defended the need to use existing commercial capacity.

During the meeting it was revealed that the company operating the Kippure IPAS centre received approximately €5.6 million in payments between July and September 2025 alone. Total payments to the provider since 2023 were cited by members as exceeding €37 million.

Wicklow County Council has issued demolition orders for 65 dwellings on the site. An Bord Pleanála (and subsequently An Coimisiún Pleanála) upheld the council's refusal of retention planning permission in December 2025.

The Comptroller and Auditor General’s report, which informed the PAC discussions, noted that only one in five IPAS properties examined had clear evidence of planning permission or exempted development status at the time of contracting.

Deputy Brady believes the lack of accommodation is having a knock-on effect on the local economy.

“From a constituency perspective, if we look at west Wicklow, every tourism accommodation is taken up either by Ukrainians or IPAS. I am acutely aware that a new contract has been entered into for The Avon in Blessington. That contract was renewed for 12 months. If we move to the east of the county, in Bray most if not all the hotel accommodation is taken up to provide accommodation either for IPAS or for Ukrainians.”

Similarly, in Wicklow town a new contract has been entered into with the Grand Hotel to provide IPAS accommodation, with some revision.

“Thousands of beds in Wicklow have been lost to tourism purposes. There is nearly zero accommodation now available for tourism purposes.”

Deputy Brady believes this is the wrong approach for the local community and economy.

“The Royal Hotel, the Esplanade Hotel and the Wilton Hotel, all in Bray are also currently being used for Ukrainian and IPAS accommodation, as well as several guest houses across Wicklow, removing hundreds of tourism beds.

“The minister had assured us that, as pressures eased, hotels and guest houses would revert to tourism and community use.

“These decisions completely contradict that and leave Wicklow with a chronic shortage of beds for visitors.”

In response, Mr Delaney said they are bound by certain protocols.

“We still have to renew as many contracts as we can to maintain the stock of beds that we have in the system. We are not at a point that we can release contracts. We have obligations to accommodate people who are arriving and those who are still awaiting offers, who arrived previously. That is a key driver as well.”

As chair of the committee, Deputy Brady has requested additional information from the Department in relation to these matters and will be following up to, in his words “ensure satisfactory answers are provided.”

The legal proceedings regarding the enforcement notices for Kippure Lodge and Holiday Village have seen several delays.

The High Court case was most recently adjourned on January 26, 2026. This marked the third adjournment of the case in the current year. While a specific new date for the next hearing has not been widely publicised in the immediate aftermath of that January session, the case remains active within the High Court system.

The legal battle stems from enforcement notices issued by Wicklow County Council concerning unauthorised developments on the estate, which is currently used for IPAS applicants.

The council previously ordered the demolition of approximately 65 structures (including houses and accommodation blocks) and the removal of roads and footpaths built without planning permission.

In December 2025, An Coimisiún Pleanála (formerly An Bord Pleanála) upheld the council's decision to refuse "retention permission" for these buildings, confirming they were not exempt from planning laws.

Objections were also raised by Uisce Éireann regarding the potential impact of unauthorised sewerage works on the regional water supply.