The Commissioners of Public Works, acting on behalf of the Reception and Integration Agency of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, purchased a number of premises in 2000 for the purpose of accommodating asylum seekers.
The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in exercise of the powers conferred on him and in accordance with section 2(2) of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act 1993 made a number of orders by reason of emergency to provide accommodation through the erection of pre-fabricated buildings for use by asylum seekers at Knockalisheen military site, County Clare, and at the Cork Airport Hotel site, Kinsale Road, Cork. Similar orders were made for the preparation of sites in Athlone, Tralee and Kildare to accommodate asylum seekers in mobile homes and also for pre-fabricated accommodation at Baleskin, County Dublin. The only ministerial order to be subject to judicial review is in the case of a site at Leggettsrath, County Kilkenny, where it was intended to provide pre-fabricated accommodation for asylum seekers. This case is still before the courts. Two properties – Broc House, Nutley Lane, and Lynch's Lodge, Macroom are currently vacant pending the outcome of separate judicial review proceedings.
As I mentioned in my response to Question No. 16 of 8 April the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, through its Reception and Integration Agency, intends to use both properties for the accommodation of asylum seekers subject to the outcome of the judicial review proceedings currently before the courts.
