The subject site has undergone multiple planning applications including whether it could be used as homeless accommodation with supports
The former La Verna nursing home in Clontarf(Image: Google Maps)
Residents in Clontarf have sought clarification on whether a former nursing home could be used to house international protection applicants or as homeless accommodation.
A planning application was submitted to Dublin City Council regarding the La Verna Nursing Home building on Haddon Road, which has most recently been used to house Ukrainians fleeing the war with Russia. But the recent application was submitted by a third party – neighbouring residents of the street where the house is located.
The application queried whether the change from nursing home to homeless accommodation, or for housing international protection applicants, was considered development and whether it was exempt if considered so. The nursing home closed in 2018.
But the council said that the change from nursing home to IPAS accommodation is a change of planning class. As a result it cannot be deemed exempt and would need planning permission, while the change to homeless accommodation would be a material change as it still requires a level of care within the use.
Plans to turn the building into apartments was approved three years ago, but works to carry out the change have yet to take place. There have been multiple applications for the site querying whether it could be used for homeless accommodation.
Dublin City Council had sought confirmation from the Government that the building was being used as IPAS accommodation, but that information was never submitted by the site owner. The planning inspector continued: “No floor plans have been submitted as part of the current Section 5 application; thus, it is unclear what uses are active on site and what works have been undertaken.”
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