The Justice Minister, Jim O’Callaghan, is not fully informed about Dundrum House Hotel according to local Councillor Liam Browne.
The Independent Councillor is to be part of a delegation from Tipperary County Council seeking a meeting with the Minister about the roll out of IPAS Accommodation Centres in the county and also specifically in Dundrum. The delegation will consist of the five Municipal Chairs, the Cathaoirleach of the County Council and Cllr Browne who submitted a motion on the matter to May Municipal District Meeting calling for a review of all local services before any decision is made to increase the population by agreeing a contract for an Accommodation centre for persons seeking asylum in Ireland.
The Government signed a contract with a new operator for a two-year provision of accommodation for 277 persons earlier this year – the company involved, Utmasta, is understood to have agreed a 20 year lease on Dundrum House Hotel Accommodation. The ownership of Dundrum House Hotel is currently the subject of legal action in the High Court between the current operator and US investors with a High Court ruling expected in early July.
Documents published yesterday under a Freedom of Information Request show that the Department also received an offer of the Golden Vale Ballroom in Dundrum Village for accommodation for 300 persons. This offer was made in 2024. The offer came from a different provider than the one currently operating at Dundrum House Hotel however the company listed as owning the Golden Vale Ballroom is linked to the company claiming ownership of the Dundrum House Hotel complex. Dundrum village has a population of 221 persons as per the 2022 Census.
Cllr Browne believes that the ongoing issue of unauthorised development at the Hotel complex (the Council has identified 6 areas of concern), a Judicial Review as regards the granting of a Section 5 Declaration that planning permission for an IPAS Centre was not required under current legislation taken by Dundrum Heritage Group and the implication for taxpayers in issuing a contract worth an estimated €8.5M per year in the circumstances are reasons why the Government should pause the contract.
Dundrum House Hotel complex has been contracted to accommodate refugees from Ukraine since 2022 however the Government notified the residents from Ukraine that they need to leave by June 1st.
