Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2026
162. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on the transfer of River Lodge, Newtownmountkennedy from his Department to the HSE; the timeline for the site to be returned to the HSE; the level of ongoing day-to-day costs; the status of any existing contracts with providers at the site, including security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6182/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth began providing emergency tented accommodation to people seeking international protection at River Lodge, Newtownmountkennedy in 2024.
The use of certain State lands for temporary accommodation solutions, including this site at River Lodge, was initiated as part of an ongoing crisis response during 2024. At the time, there were large numbers of applicants who could not be offered accommodation, and a concerning numbers of applicants were rough-sleeping.
The centre opened to residents in May 2024 and hundreds of international protection applicants were provided with basic tented accommodation on the site until December 2024. At that time, due to the impact of severe weather, it was decided to move residents to alternative IPAS accommodation.
The Department undertook work to explore alternative development options to potentially repurpose River Lodge for other forms of accommodation during 2025. Following technical and financial assessments - particularly in relation to wastewater treatment infrastructure - it was deemed not possible to move forward with such proposals.
River Lodge, Newtownmountkennedy, has not been used as international protection accommodation since December 2024, and all tented accommodation has been removed from the site.
During this period, security has to be maintained on the site, as it is at all IPAS centres, and in particular as there had been previous instances of violent protest at this location. Security services are the only significant cost associated with this site at this time, other than basic utilities.
It has now been agreed with the HSE that the site will be returned to them, bringing the licensed use of this site for IPAS accommodation to a conclusion.
Some minor works may be required on site as part of the return, and the Department is working with the HSE to agree the scope of this, and this process will inform the timeline. It is hoped that the site can be returned to the HSE as soon as possible pending these works being completed.
Accommodation supply remains constrained for single male applicants, and the State continues to maintain efforts to source accommodation as part of an overall reform of the international protection system, which is well underway.
Ireland has adopted and is now working to implement the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum in mid-2026. Reforming and speeding up processing of applications should also serve over time to reduce the scale of the demand for international protection accommodation.
The Department is also working to increase the amount of State-owned international protection accommodation and creating a more stable and sustainable accommodation system overall.
