Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 February 2024
120. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will provide an overview of the works, including costs incurred, undertaken at the Sate-owned Shannon 153 building in Shannon, County Clare as plans were being developed to transform it into an accommodation centre for international protection applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5231/24]
View answerIn 2022, the Office of Public Works (OPW) offered a State owned building, Unit 153 in the Shannon Business Park to the Department of Children, Equality, Diversity, Integration and Children, as a potential location for the accommodation of refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine.
The Department asked the OPW to consider a design and layout which would facilitate occupation by Ukrainian refugees and International Protection Applicants (IPAs).
The OPW developed suitable layouts and undertook necessary surveys to establish the condition of the building including the roof, building systems and services, structural fabric etc. These surveys were required regardless of how the building is to be used in the future.
The Department of Children, Equality, Diversity, Integration and Children has recently released its interest in the property and therefore the building is no longer required for provision of accommodation for refugees or IPAs.
No building works have been undertaken to this building to date. The costs associated with developing the proposed layouts for the building are currently being finalised.
