Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
725. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to address concerns regarding extensive changes made to a building (details supplied) in preparation for use as an international protection accommodation centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56292/23]
View answerMy Department has no role in the provision of accommodation for International Protection applicants. However, as part of the whole of Government response to the invasion of Ukraine and the associated humanitarian situation, my Department is providing support on certain accommodation options for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection from Ukraine, including the Offer a Home scheme and the Emergency Refurbishment (Ukraine) Programme (ERUP).
Any property which has been referred to ERUP and which is the subject of an agreement with the Department of Children, Equality, Integration, Disability and Youth, may be eligible to benefit from the European Union (Planning and Development)(Displaced Persons from Ukraine Temporary Protection) Regulations 2022, S.I. 306 of 2022. These regulations provide that certain classes of temporary development, including residential accommodation undertaken by or on behalf of a State authority, to provide protection to displaced persons from Ukraine, may be exempt from the provisions of the Planning and Development Acts, other than environmental considerations.
Furthermore, following engagement with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and as part of the response to the continuing unprecedented demand for the accommodation of those seeking international protection and assisting in meeting Ireland’s international obligations in this regard, the Planning and Development (Exempted Development) (No 4) Regulations 2023, S.I. 376 of 2023, extended the planning permission exemptions for specified structures that can be used for the purposes of providing temporary accommodation for such persons.
Any concerns regarding planning issues, fire certification or building control should be addressed to the relevant local authority. While the building referred to was notified to my Department's Emergency Refurbishment (Ukraine) Programme, it is privately owned and my Department does not have any further information regarding its current status.
