Clodagh Roche

Check out the full list of activities over the St Patricks Day Festival happening on March 13th-17th

First of all, the land grab was illegal. They tried to shaft the owner. They’d also already applied for planning permission on the site, and granted it to themselves.
A very vague notice was sought to put a “homeless hub” on the grounds.
However, leaked talks from people in the council, showed they were planning to make it an addiction hub / homeless hub, for people with addictions, mainly men.
At no point whatsoever in these notices or memos, was any plan put in place as to how such a hub could be put bang snack in the middle of a residential area, where children walk past every day, to and from schools. Also, where elderly and vulnerable members of our society pass by going to the occupational therapy building where Supervalu is, also for anyone walking by to do their shopping in Supervalu.
They did not seek specific planning for the hub to have the necessary addiction specialists on site, nor involved at any stage of the planning was the HSE who would have talked about safe needle exchange and methadone distribution.
There was memos internally to get the hub implemented first, and then to outsource it to a private holding company who would provide those services.
The fact this was even discussed to implement at a later stage shows the type of dangerous individuals working in the council, who have a deep disregard for the people of Johnstown & Athlumney specifically. How dare they.
They have been planning to put the lives of children at grave risk and danger, which goes against The Child Care Act 1991, and Children’s First 2015.
Clinics such as these or hubs such as these should be on the outskirts of towns, not in the middle of towns.
Research previously has shown that such hubs attract a multitude of drug dealers to the vicinity, which results in children being either given illegal substances, or hired to sell illegal substances to other children. Research previously has also found that crime rates have increased as a result of people looking to fund addictions, which results also have found that the levels of victim ptsd is more prevalent. Not only that, but at several homeless hubs which house addicts, there has been a huge increase increase of indecent exposure and sexual acts carried out in broad daylight and in full view of children, exposing them to unwarranted behaviour at young ages where children are normally protected from being exposed to such incidences.
The list goes on.
There are a few of these places in the Drogheda area at present, where there is escalated incidences of needle crime, drunken aggression and violence, increased public lewdness including sexual acts being performed in broad daylight and full view of people walking by, and shoplifting to fund addictions, as well as pickpocketing, which mainly targets elderly, people with disabilities, and women.
The people of Johnstown and Athlumney must wake up and stand up to this corruption immediately, and also ensure that their beloved towns are governed properly and with just cause.

An Coimisiún Pleanála refuses consent to the compulsory acquisition of the Old Garage site, Kenstown Road, Navan
Commission Order - ACP-323428-25

The Commission doesn’t believe the council has shown that it actually needs to compulsorily purchase the site right now to deal with it being derelict.

Because of that, the objection stands. The Commission, in its report, states, that taking the property at this stage would go too far and would unfairly interfere with the owner’s property rights. On that basis, the Commission concluded that the site does not meet the legal definition of a derelict site under the Derelict Sites Act 1990. Because of that, they believe compulsorily purchasing the site would go too far and is not justified at this time.

Housing Support Officer - Dublin Region Homeless Executive | Dublin City Council

We seek a Housing Support Officer to assist families at risk of homelessness. Join the Central Placement Service and help households transition from emergency accommodation to stable housing with provided training.

Salary: €51,722 – €61,865
Application Deadline: 14 November 2025 (Midnight)
For further information and to apply - https://careers.dublincity.ie/Job/JobDetail?JobId=711

Dublin City Council is an equal opportunity employer, welcoming applicants from all backgrounds.