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State's Handling Of Westmeath IPAS Centre A "Complete Farce"

Tuesday, 5 August 2025 09:28

Councillors Paul Hogan, Frankie Keena, John Dolan, and Aengus O'Rourke are currently challenging plans in the High Court.

The government's actions around a planned 1,000 person capacity Asylum Seeker centre in Westmeath are "beyond belief".

That's according to the four Athlone Councillors who are challenging the validity of the plans in the High Court.

The State is proposing new legislation that will retrospectively address issues around the planning and environmental impacts that saw work on the project halted.

Paul Hogan, Frankie Keena, John Dolan, and Aengus O'Rourke believe the State’s approach represents an "astonishing abuse of power and process."

The Councillors are also taking aim at the Minister for the Office of Public Works, Kevin Boxer Moran, who is backing the government's actions despite being co-signatory on the original case against the Government.

The latest High Court hearing saw the State deliver an outline of their plans - it's understood the legislation may be ready in November.

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