A well-known hotel in Cavan could remain closed to the public for another three years to accommodate international protection applicants.
It comes following a referral to An Bórd Pleanála which questioned the current use of the Dún a Rí house hotel in Kingscourt. The Dún a Rí house hotel closed its doors to the public a number of years ago to begin housing international protection applicants. Exemptions to the planning act to allow temporary housing of asylum seekers were due to expire at the end of last year, prompting the operators of the hotel to refer a question to Cavan County Council. They asked whether the change of use of the guesthouse to accommodate refugees was classed as exempted development. Class 14 and Class 20F of the planning and development act allows for buildings such as hotels to be used temporarily for this purpose. According to the amendments, the temporary use must be discontinued no later than December 31st 2028. The referral by Cavan County Council asked whether Dún a Rí is classed as a guesthouse or hotel, and whether these fell into the planning exemptions. The inspector's report pointed out that all previous planning applications referenced the building as a hotel and it should be classed as such. In the inspector's view, the proposed change of use of the hotel to house international protection applicants is not a material change of use. There are no internal or external alterations planned and the hotel would still retain the bedrooms and communal areas, which the inspector argues means this change of use can't be classed as development. With regard to whether Dún a Rí falls into the planning exemptions, An Bórd Pleanála says hotels clearly form part of Class 20F, therefore the change of use of the Kingscourt building is exempted development.
The decision means the local hotel can continue to house international protection applicants until at least 2028.
