Cllrs unanimously agree to call on Minister for Housing to remove planning exemption for proposed IPAS centres

Meath county councillors have unanimously agreed to call on the Minister for Housing to remove the Section Five planning exemption provision for proposed IPAS centres which allows for the standard planning process to be bypassed.

Cllr Noel French brought forward the motion at full council yesterday (Monday) for Meath County Council to call on the Minister to remove the section five planning exemption provision and to ensure that IPAS centres they follow the standard planning process.

He spoke of the anger, frustration, and worry and caused by these section five exemption applications which in many cases were for industrial buildings that were not suitable for human habitation.

He said the current system, which does not allow for public consultation, “undermines the planning process, the reputation of public representatives, the reputation of planning in councils and the values of fairness and equality”.

“Local towns and villages are left for weeks frustrated and uncertain as to what is happening in their community,” said Cllr French.

“This process goes against proper planning rules and further erodes public confidence in the planning process. If the building of homes, business premises or any other community facility must run the gauntlet of planning process, then so should IPAS centres.”

He also pointed out that a person or entity can apply to change the use of any non residential building or structure, even if they do not own the property and questioned the constitutionality of this.

“The Government needs to address the issue of planning in relation to IPAS centres and migration. There is a pressing need to prioritise transparency, proper oversight, and community consultation in planning decisions, especially those that could significantly impact local community, local infrastructure and public trust,” said Cllr French.

Cllr Sean Drew pointed out that there had recently been a review of planning exemptions generally to which he had made a submission and said the section five process overrides the zoning and planning restrictions that elected councillors had put in to their development plans.

He said the principal reason for attempts to house people in industrial and commercial units and for hotels being converted thus impacting local communities, was for these property owners to make money.

During the discussion, Cllr Alan Tobin raised the issues around IPAS centres in rural areas including one he said was recently approved with a Section Five exemption that is 2km from the nearest shop, over 4km from the nearest school, with no play area, no footpaths to it, and that a 100kmph road had to be crossed on a bend to avail of either a bus or a shop.

A separate motion was also brought forward by Aontú's Emer Tóibín, who called on the council to write to the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to withdraw all planning exemptions currently in place for properties to accommodate international protection applicants and that they be subject to the standard planning process.

She said that loopholes that allowed IPAS accommodation providers bypass the planning process must be closed immediately and that the situation where developers are being permitted to circumvent planning laws that every person must follow was “inequitable, undermines trust in the system and fuels division”.

“For the integrity of our planning system, for public trust and for community cohesion, these exemptions must be withdrawn, that way we can continue to meet our international responsibility in a way that is fair, transparent and accountable, both to those arriving to our country and the communities that welcome them.”

Cllr Yemi Adenuga said that planning exemptions where buildings are suddenly repurposed with no consultation was creating deep mistrust and fuelling division and she also questioned why accommodation for vulnerable families was being treated with lower standards than a garden shed.

Cllr Dave Boyne supported his Aontú party colleague's motion and said any such planning exemptions should be revoked until they go through the proper planning process.

However, Cllr Gerry O'Connor argued that if they call for all existing planning exemptions to be withdrawn they would be throwing the baby out with the bathwater, and suggested that the motion be amended to “review” all planning exemptions rather than “withdraw” them as it would weed out the bad accommodation but keep the good ones. This was agreed, while Cllr French's previous motion would cover exemptions going forward.