Wicklow Sinn Féin TD John Brady has sharply criticised the €400,000 spent on establishing emergency international protection accommodation at River Lodge in Newtownmountkennedy, describing it as a “shocking waste of public money” and clear evidence of the Government’s chaotic and poorly planned approach to asylum accommodation.
Deputy Brady said the provision of emergency tented accommodation at River Lodge through the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth was “haphazard from the outset,” despite the Department, the Minister and the Government being repeatedly informed that the site was wholly unsuitable for numerous reasons.
“Despite repeated warnings and despite strong concerns from the local community in Newtownmountkennedy, the Department pushed ahead over the heads of local representatives and residents,” Brady said.
“The decision to proceed with tented accommodation at an unsuitable site was reckless, wasteful and entirely avoidable.”
“River Lodge ultimately ceased being used as emergency accommodation in December 2024 after adverse weather conditions made the tented structures unviable, and all residents were relocated. A subsequent process to examine alternative development options—including repurposing the site for other forms of accommodation—was carried out. The Department carried out technical and financial assessments, particularly relating to wastewater treatment infrastructure, and found that it was not possible to progress any proposed redevelopment at River Lodge.”
Brady, who is Chairperson of PAC, explained that the information was furnished to the Public Accounts Committee following questions he submitted when the Department of Justice appeared before the Committee. He said the material provided “summarises failures at every level.”
“It exposes the lack of planning, the waste of taxpayers’ money, the haphazard approach taken by the Government, and the complete failure to engage with local public representatives or the wider community,” he said.
“What has happened in Newtown is a sorry saga of mismanagement, and it now needs to be brought to an end.”
“The Department continues to maintain security on the site, despite there being no plans to accommodate international protection applicants there.
“The ongoing cost of providing security for an empty, unused site is yet another unnecessary burden on the taxpayer,” he said. “This waste has gone on long enough.”
Deputy Brady is now calling on the Government to immediately end expenditure at River Lodge and hand the site over for community use.
“There are real and pressing community needs in Newtownmountkennedy. River Lodge must be returned to the community, and the continuous waste of taxpayers’ money must stop.” Ends