Two property owners have been granted Section 5 Declarations by Tipperary county council in respect of plans to provide accommodation for asylum seekers.
The Section 5 process allows property owners to seek clarification from the Council that the development does not need planning permission under current legislation. The council has confirmed in both cases that no planning application is required under the current legislation. One application is in the name of Naroclik care of Brian O’Kennedy & Associates in Douglas, Cork in respect of Kilcoran Lodge Hotel located near Cahir on the old Dublin Cork road. The second application relates to a former furniture store and warehouse in Thurles on Mitchell Street. The Thurles application is made in the name of Kilbrin Homes care of Meitheal Architects in Cork city.
The Hotel currently has 23 bedrooms and the plans for the buildings on Mitchell street in Thurles show that a total of 81 persons could be accommodated across 15 bedrooms in the modified building.
The Section 5 declarations are published on the Tipperary County Council website at this link here.(scroll down to see applications). The application in respect of the building in Thurles is accompanied by a letter from the Department of Equality expressing an interest in using the building for accommodation purposes dated July 2024. A Section 5 Declaration has also been granted by Tipperary County Council in respect of Dundrum House Hotel. This is currently being challenged in the courts by Dundrum Heritage Group.
