Laois villagers lodge legal appeal against double IPAS centre approval

Villagers in Laois have dug deep for money and are now lodging a planning appeal against a decision by Laois County Council to approve two International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) centres.

Durrow in Laois which has a population of around 1,200 people, has two pubs owned by the same local businessman which both got planning approval from the council for conversion to the accommodation centres.

Lennon's Pub and Peadar's Bar on Mary Street both got approval for the controversial usages in March. Concerned locals have held several town meetings over the past year, and a fundraiser was recently set up for legal fees.

With a target of €15,000, it has now passed €7,700 and local Cllr Ollie Clooney is asking the public to give more to pay for costs. 

The deadline to lodge an appeal was Monday April 20 and he confirmed to the Leinster Express / Laois Live that an appeal will be lodged in time.

No construction can now take place until An Coimisiun Pleanála make their final decision, which will be at least 18 weeks away.

"The committee engaged a legal consultant and are hopeful. These people don't come cheap. We're up against a great lady up in Dublin who is not cheap so we have to match that," Cllr Clooney said.

He explained the top issues that local people are worried about.

"The location is number one. That road is very, very busy. You wouldn't park a bike on it. It's especially busy in summer with milk tankers. Mirrors are constantly broken. The only chemist in the village is on the road and old people can't even park there.

"People are fearful of who comes. The women and children come first and the men come later. It's just the fear of the unknown.

"It's nearly a year since we had a meeting in the community hall, and nobody came to allay those fears to the community," Cllr Clooney said.

In its submission against Lennons, Durrow Community Council had asked the Council to consider the scale and suitability of the plans, the traffic implications, zoning, the social and environmental implications and what they said was the lack of public consultation in relation to the plans.  

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“While I acknowledge the need for national solutions to humanitarian issues, developments of this scale and nature should be appropriately sited with full transparency, respect for local planning policy, and adequate community input. I respectfully request that this application be refused,” wrote secretary Mary Monahan on behalf of the group. 

A planning report compiled and submitted on behalf of Mr Lennon states that: “It is noted that the property has remained vacant since permission was granted for guesthouse/hotel use in 2023. It is considered that allowing this proposed use will allow the reuse of this now vacant public house located in a town centre location.”