‘A win for proper planning and accountability’
Westmeath-based Independent Ireland Councillor Paul Hogan has secured a significant victory following the Government’s concession of a High Court challenge against the proposed development of emergency asylum accommodation in Athlone.
The case, which centred on the expedited plans for a site at Lissywollen, has been described by Cllr Hogan as a “win for proper planning, accountability, and the voice of local communities”.
The Government had sought to proceed with a development to house around 1,000 male asylum seekers in army-style tents, with plans to later replace them with modular units. However, the High Court heard this week that the State conceded the case, meaning the development would be considered “unauthorised”.
At the hearing, Oisín Collins SC, representing Cllr Hogan, confirmed to Mr Justice Richard Humphreys that the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, and Youth had accepted the challenge. Ms Aoife Carroll SC, on behalf of the State, explained that the case would now be mentioned formally later this week.
Cllr Hogan, who represents the political party Independent Ireland, brought the challenge alongside other Athlone-based public representatives, including newly elevated Independent TD Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran (who was a county councillor for Athlone when the challenge originated), Fianna Fáil councillors Frankie Keena and Aengus O’Rourke, and Fine Gael’s Cllr John Dolan. The legal challenge followed weeks of protests in Athlone and was supported by a fundraising campaign which raised over €50,000.
Speaking after the State’s concession, Cllr Hogan described the outcome as “a win for the people of Athlone and for fairness in governance”. He added: “The process undertaken by the Minister was unlawful and ignored key environmental and planning concerns. Communities deserve better, and this result ensures their voices cannot simply be dismissed”.
The case centred on claims that the ministerial process bypassed fair procedures and breached environmental laws. According to Cllr Hogan’s legal team, the Government failed to adequately screen the project for environmental impacts, address wastewater requirements, or assess potential traffic hazards arising from the development.
The proposed site, located at the rear of the existing direct provision centre in Lissywollen, would have initially housed up to 1,000 asylum seekers in approximately 150 tents. The occupants, according to court documents, would have been free to move about the area, raising what Cllr Hogan described as significant health, safety, and traffic concerns for the local community.
In his affidavit, Cllr Hogan argued that the Minister lacked the necessary expertise to carry out assessments of this scale and criticised the absence of consultation with local representatives. He explained that Athlone has a long-standing tradition of accommodating international protection applicants but warned that local health services are already overburdened. “This development would have been prejudicial to public health,” he said.
The challenge relied on grounds similar to a recent case in north Dublin, where a statutory instrument facilitating a similar development near Dublin Airport was struck down by the courts. In both instances, the Government opted to proceed without seeking approval from An Bord Pleanála or conducting specific EU-mandated environmental assessments.
Minister for Integration Roderic O’Gorman had contested Cllr Hogan’s claims, maintaining that the development was lawful. However, the concession this week marks a decisive turn in the case.
Independent Ireland welcomed the result, stating that while addressing the housing needs of refugees is essential, it must not come at the expense of proper procedures or community wellbeing. The party called on the Government to engage in meaningful consultation with local representatives and communities to ensure sustainable, transparent, and fair solutions to accommodation pressures.
https://www.independentireland.ie/
