Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for raising an important issue. We fully acknowledge that. My understanding is that Dundrum House Hotel had not been operating as a hotel since 2015, so I do not think it ceased being a hotel because of the decision in 2022 to use it for, initially, the beneficiaries of temporary protection following the war in Ukraine. I understand the first initial use of Dundrum House Hotel was for Ukrainians feeling the war. The Deputy might clarify that for me. I understand that it had not been in use as a hotel since 2015, which would be about seven years earlier. I think the adjacent golf club and catering facilities are still being used by the public and the community since that time.

The Deputy is correct that the Department of justice entered a contract in April 2025 with a company called Utmasta Limited to provide international protection accommodation at Dundrum House. That followed a detailed appraisal process and community engagement since summer 2024. My understanding is that it has a contracted maximum capacity of more than 200. About 190 people are accommodated there at the moment. Part of that appraisal process for a new contract included a review of the property services and compliance. This was done in conjunction with the local authority in the case of this contract, and a section 5 exemption was granted by the local authority. That is my understanding of what happened. Utmasta Limited has engaged with Tipperary County Council and has given a commitment to regularise any outstanding planning matters at the wider site. My understanding is that there are two separate legal matters ongoing relating to the property, neither of which involve the Department of justice or the Government directly. There was a judicial review into the planning exemption granted by Tipperary County Council to Dundrum House. This was initiated by the local heritage group. I understand that the owners decided not to continue to defend the proceedings.

The accommodation provider lodged its own section 5 application to Tipperary County Council in October of this year. This was referred to An Coimisiún Pleanála by the local authority for a decision, as the local authority said it was unable to make a decision on the matter. As the Deputy knows, the case is due to be decided by 13 March 2026, according to pleanala.ie. There is another dispute, which I do not want to comment on, which is not really relevant to me, about ownership and so on. The Department is saying, based on the fact that the contract and leases were and still are in place, that IPAS is continuing to use the property. If any action should be required as a result of any court proceedings, this will be addressed by officials as appropriate.

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