Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 April 2023
497. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide a memo in respect of the basis for proceeding with the use of a building (details supplied) that is subject to determinations made regarding restrictions and or limitations of its use by a local authority. [19613/23]
View answerI will set out the position in this reply rather than in a memo. As the Deputy is aware, the decision to utilise the building in question to accommodate single female international protection applicants has been made in an extraordinarily pressurised context. There are currently almost 570 people without accommodation in the State so the use of the property in question is desperately needed to reduce the numbers of unaccommodated here in as far as possible.
As outlined in a previous question on this matter, the provider has advised the Department that in the opinion of their planning consultant, the change of the property's use to provide accommodation for international protection applicants does not amount to a material change of use and that planning permission is not required. I understand that the provider will continue to engage with the Council to clarify these matters.
