Tipperary village locals wish to see hotel return to former use

Tensions flared earlier this month upon the announcement that the awarding of a contract for an IPAS centre in the Dundrum House Hotel was awarded wrongfully by Tipperary County Council.

The council released a statement on Tuesday afternoon, June 17, stating that “the Planning Authority proceeded on the basis of inaccurate information” and that the “Appropriate Assessment Screening Report that accompanied the Section 5 assessment was flawed”.

READ MORE: LIVE: Gardaí issue statement after man (20s) killed in crash on Tipperary/Laois border

In a special meeting on Monday, June 16 of the Tipperary/Cahir/Cashel Municipal District, the council’s legal team advised the meeting that the section 5 planning exemption given to the hotel should not have been granted.

The council sought legal advice after Dundrum Heritage Group asked for a judicial review to take place regarding the council’s decision to provide a planning exemption for the development.

Tipperary County Council has confirmed it will not contest the Judicial Review brought by the Dundrum Heritage Group to quash the Section 5 declaration issued in respect of Dundrum House.

Tipperary County Council may also now be liable for the legal fees of the group who sought this judicial review of the premises, Dundrum Heritage Group.

Local reaction to the revelation seems to not stray far from the opinions held by locals in the area from last year, coming up to, and following, the moving of approximately 80 international protection applicants into the hotel in August of last year.

One business owner in the area stated that his opinions on the matter had not changed following the revelation early last week, stating that they would rather see the hotel return to its original use as a hotel, which would help business and tourism in the area.

READ MORE: BREAKING: Great sadness and anger after decision to close much-loved Tipperary school

Another local stated that the news that broke last week was not new to them, and that many in the area were aware of what had gone on prior to the announcement.

They stated that their sentiment towards the opening of an IPAS centre in the area had not changed, and that they maintained their stance that the village is not equipped to deal with an influx of international protection applicants into the area, due to a lack of facilities, citing medical facilities not being able to keep up with a rapid increase in demand, among others.

Another local business owner in the area said that they had been avoiding the hotel ever since the announcement of its conversion to an IPAS centre, and would not visit with their family, however, they stated that the venue is set to reopen under new ownership, which they will give their full support to once it opens.

Several other businesses in the area were asked for their opinions on the news that the County Council had awarded the contract under false information, however they declined to speak on the matter.

These calls echo the opinions held by many locals of the village from last year, who spoke out vehemently against the use of the hotel to house international protection applicants.

Speaking with Tipperary Live in July of last year, Fiona Kennedy, a local of the Dundrum area and one of the protestors, said that they are being lied to by the Government.

She said: “There seems to be no attempt to restore the hotel to what it’s supposed to be. Our Taoiseach has said the only hotel in the area should not be used for this (IPAS) accommodation.

“This is the only hotel in the area,” she said.

She spoke about how IPAS centres are not being set up in Ireland for empathetic reasons, but she claims they are being set up “solely for financial gain”.

She said: “None of this is being done out of compassion, it’s a money making exercise, and the money that is changing hands is unbelievable, and unfortunately the Government is allowing businesses to sell out their communities, sell out just for a mighty buck, you know, and that’s really the thrust of it.”

Protestors have been stationed at the gates of the hotel since May of last year, with locals taking part in the demonstration 24 hours a day.