Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

1317. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if IPAS centres are subject to the same notification and consultation requirements as other developments under the Planning Acts (details supplied). [59209/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

1321. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if IPAS centres are subject to the same notification and consultation requirements as other developments under the Planning and Development Acts 2000 and 2025 and Planning and Development Acts 2024 and 2025. [59233/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

1322. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality in light of the applicable provisions of the Integration and Reception (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 159 of 2025), if an environmental impact assessment, or an appropriate assessment of the then proposed development, as required by section 4(4) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, was conducted by the former Minister of Department for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (details supplied); and since 1 May 2025 the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in respect of each and every IPAS centre constructed to date on the basis of such IPAS centres being deemed exempt from the requirement to obtain planning permission under Class 20F of Part 1 to Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 to 2025 (as inserted by Planning and Development (Exempted Development) (No. 4) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 605 of 2022) and amended by the Planning and Development (Exempted Development) (No. 4) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 376 of 2023)). [59234/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1317, 1321 and 1322 together.

I understand the Deputy's question to refer to all IPAS accommodation centres that may have relied upon S.I. Nos. 605 of 2022 and 376 of 2023.

Ireland has at all times endeavoured to provide accommodation and other basic supports to people seeking international protection as required by law.

The majority of International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) commercial emergency accommodation has been commissioned as part of the emergency response to increased demand since 2022.

Over 45,000 people arrived and applied for international protection during 2022, 2023 and 2024, almost matching the total number of applications made during the previous 16 years (44,000). This coincided with the invasion of Ukraine, and the arrival of over 120,000 people to Ireland fleeing that conflict.

The Planning and Development (Exempted Development) (No. 4) Regulations (S.I. 605 of 2022) were introduced to assist the State in meeting Ireland’s legal obligation to provide accommodation to international protection applicants.

The Regulations 2023 (S.I. 376 of 2023) extended the planning exemption provided by S.I. 605 of 2022, from 31 December 2024 to 31 December 2028. This means that properties covered by this SI can operate as an accommodation centre for people seeking international protection under the provisions of that legislation for as long as it is applicable.

The Regulations amend Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, to insert a new Class 20F exemption, with the structures in question being temporarily exempted from the requirement to obtain change of use planning permission. The regulations allow the temporary use of certain structures to accommodate or support persons seeking international protection.

Class 20F of S.I. No. 605 of 2022 permits the change of use of the following structures for the purpose of providing the necessary facilities for international protection applicants: “school, college, university, training centre, social centre, community centre, non-residential club, art gallery, museum, library, reading room, sports club or stadium, gymnasium, hotel, convention centre, conference centre, shop, office, Defence Forces barracks, light industrial building, airport operational building, wholesale warehouse or repository, local authority administrative office, play centre, medical and other health and social care accommodation, event and exhibition space or any structure or part of structure normally used for public worship or religious instruction.”

The conditions of this exemption can be reviewed here: www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2022/si/605/made/en/print

Properties which meet the conditions of this exemption may change their use to provide IPAS Accommodation and this development can then be considered exempt development under the Planning and Development Act.