Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow and Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, John Brady, has welcomed the long-overdue moves by Government to begin the process of ending what he described as an “extraordinary and unacceptable waste of taxpayers’ money” at Trudder House, River Lodge in Newtownmountkennedy. The site is to be handed back to the HSE, bringing an end to the sorry saga of mismanagement and waste by the Government.
Deputy Brady said the move only came about following sustained pressure he exerted on the Government after the publication of detailed figures revealing the true scale of spending at the site.
Teachta Brady said:
“I welcome the long-overdue decision by the Government to finally begin the process of ending the waste of taxpayers’ money at River Lodge by handing the site back to the HSE. This will bring an end to the Department of Justice’s control of the site.
“This belated move has only come about because of the pressure I applied and the spotlight I put on this issue after exposing the extraordinary level of public money that was being squandered at this site.
“Information provided to me as chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee, revealed that more than €2.8 million was spent on the site in 2024 across site establishment and maintenance, accommodation and services, security and fuel.
“Despite River Lodge ceasing to operate as emergency international protection accommodation in December 2024, after adverse weather conditions rendered the tented structures unviable and all occupants were relocated, spending continued into 2025.
“Figures showed that more than €1.4 million was spent at the vacant site in 2025 alone, with an astonishing €1.3 million of that total spent purely on security for a completely empty facility.
“This is a site that the Department itself has acknowledged is unsuitable for accommodation purposes and for which there was absolutely no plan going forward. Yet, day after day, taxpayers’ money continued to be burned, with €1.3 million spent on security at a site that was completely empty.
“I have no doubt whatsoever that it was the embarrassment caused by exposing this waste of taxpayers’ money that forced the Tánaiste, Simon Harris, to finally move on this issue.”
“Had I not brought these figures into the public domain, I have absolutely no doubt that the wastage overseen by Simon Harris and the Government would have continued indefinitely.
“This level of waste was a kick in the teeth to the people of Newtownmountkennedy and to ordinary citizens already under severe pressure from the cost-of-living crisis.”
Deputy Brady welcomed confirmation that the Department of Justice is now moving to hand River Lodge back to the HSE but said the process must now be expedited.
“I welcome the decision to hand River Lodge back to the HSE, and I hope this marks the beginning of the end of what has been a sorry saga of mismanagement and waste. This needs to happen as quickly as possible, and all remaining expenditure at the site must now cease immediately.”
He added that the site must now be repurposed for community use.
“The HSE must now work closely with Wicklow County Council and the local community to ensure this site is repurposed and turned into a space that serves real community needs. Newtownmountkennedy is crying out for investment and improved community facilities, and River Lodge must be returned to the community where it belongs.”
Deputy Brady said the entire episode could have been avoided had the Government engaged meaningfully with the local community from the outset.
“This entire sorry saga, and the waste of millions of euros of taxpayers’ money, could easily have been avoided if the Government had engaged in meaningful dialogue with the local community, listened to the concerns of public representatives, and worked with people on the ground.”
“Instead, the approach taken was one of imposition, which caused unnecessary division, ignored legitimate concerns, and ultimately resulted in millions of euros being wasted.”
He said the episode exposed deeper failings in Government policy.
“Without the scrutiny I applied and without bringing these figures into the public domain, I have no doubt that this wasteful saga would have dragged on indefinitely.”
“This once again exposes the fundamental failure at the heart of the Government’s approach to asylum and the IPAS system. There was never a plan, never a coherent strategy, and the mismanagement of River Lodge stands as a stark testament to that failure.”
“This waste has gone on long enough. It must now be ended.” Ends