Tipperary locals lodge High Court case over hotel becoming centre for asylum seekers

Locals in the Dundrum area have lodged a case in the High Court over Dundrum House Hotel becoming a centre for asylum seekers, says Tipperary County Councillor Liam Browne.

The newly elected Cllr issued a statement on his Facebook page regarding the matter.

In his statement, made yesterday, Browne said: "Some of the people on the protest in Dundrum, have decided to challenge this in the courts. This morning, they lodged over 300 affidavits, signed by members of the local community in Dundrum, and they delivered those papers to the High Court this morning. They are challenging the legality of the Government, to run parallel legal systems. We hope there action is successful. If law makers, are allowed to become law breakers.. then there is no law. I was delighted to be allowed take a small part in forcing the Government to account, by signing my own affidavit last night. Hopefully we will be successful."

Browne stated that planning regulations currently differ for housing arrangements for Irish people compared to those in place for asylum seekers and refugees.

He said: "Many people may not be aware, but the Government suspended sections of the Planning Act in November 2022, because they were having difficulty finding accommodation for asylum seekers. The Act remains suspended today.. FOR ACCOMMODATION FOR REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS ONLY!"

To explain that.. if I developer wished to build a development planned to house 250 Irish people.. that developer would need to submit a planning application which would outline the need for the the development, the suitability of the development, the ability of the local area to absorb the extra people, cars, parking, traffic volumes, the water supply, the sewage collection protocols, the upkeep of the area post development, pay development fees, etc etc.," he said.

"However, if a developer wishes to house 250 refugees or asylum seekers.. no planning is needed.. no justification for the development is needed.. no report of the impact of the change in use of a building is needed.. etc etc

This in my opinion, is creating a parallel planning system.. and a parallel legal system," he added.