Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Thursday, 23 October 2025
Public Accounts Committee
Appropriation Accounts 2024
Vote 21 - Prisons
Vote 24 - Justice
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth - Programme E Expenditure
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 9 - Assessing Cyber Security in the Public Sector
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2024
Chapter 9 - Criminal Justice Operational Hubs
Chapter 10 - Management of International Protection Accommodation Contracts
2:00 am
John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
In my constituency last year, there was a site in Newtownmountkennedy where a serious failure occurred. This is probably replicated across the State. There was a failure to properly engage with communities and inappropriate locations were chosen in which to put accommodation. There were a lot of concerns in that instance. I will try to get some of the figures now, but a considerable amount of work was done on that site to prepare it. It was only used for a very short time. Maybe Mr. Delaney can provide an update. I do not think it is being used now. What is the selection process for sites? There is the failure to engage with communities and public representatives. There is also the appropriateness of sites like Newtownmountkennedy, which is in a very rural area. There are the additional pressures they put on communities and the failure to appropriately engage with the communities and other service providers. Maybe Mr. Delaney does not have the information now. That site was formerly a disused HSE site. How much did it cost to prepare it? What is its current status? How long was it utilised for? It is my understanding that it is not being used. What is the long-term plan for that site in Trudder House, Newtownmountkennedy?
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