Watch: Concerns Raised As Trees Felled On Public Space At Ryevale House

Thursday, 16 January 2025 12:53

By Martin Osborne

Social Democrats Cllr Nuala Killeen said the green space the trees are being felled onto is public open space.

Locals have expressed concern over trees being cut down at Ryevale House in Leixlip.

Social Democrats Cllr Nuala Killeen said the green space the trees are being felled onto is public open space.

A contractor working on the site said they do have planning permission to cut trees down.

He said the felling of the tree in the video below "went wrong" and that it was an isolated incident.

An Bord Pleanála has found that Ryevale House in Leixlip, being used to house asylum seekers, is operating in defiance of planning laws.

The ruling made by the national planning authority has come after it was revealed that the facility housed international protection applicants for a year without a fire certificate.

The owners of the protected structure were also served with an enforcement notice from Kildare County Council (KCC) over the unauthorised change of use and building works on the property.

It's understood that, despite this, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth - who source accommodation for refugees and asylum seekers in the country - has paid its owners around €3.8m.

An Bord Pleanála has ruled the controversial works carried out on the protected structure are in breach of planning laws.

Kfm understands that the owner of Ryevale House plans to appeal the the decision.