The Office of Public Works (OPW) has engaged in internal discussions regarding the potential use of a historic site within Dublin's Phoenix Park to house asylum seekers. The proposed location is a 14-acre area currently occupied by Tailte Éireann, formerly known as Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI).
While an OPW spokesperson denied that plans for a reception center for international protection applicants are being considered, a senior civil servant with knowledge of informal discussions indicated that such options are being explored due to the underutilization of the site. "We are looking for a tenant, this is a seriously underused but brilliant site," the source told the Irish Mail on Sunday. "So we have already had discussions with different agencies at various levels, but there has been no solid conclusion."
The source added that "drastic options" are being considered, including the possibility of an international protection center and longer-term accommodation for asylum seekers, acknowledging that such a move would be "controversial."
The site in question includes several listed buildings and is located adjacent to the headquarters of An Garda Síochána. Historically, the site has been the subject of controversy. Last year, it was revealed that current and former civil servants were occupying six residential properties on the Ordnance Survey site with minimal or no rent, described as "sweetheart rent deals." These properties were not listed on any publicly available official asset register, despite having individual Eircodes.
A seventh property, a detached house formerly known as the ‘Chief Superintendent’s Residence,’ is occupied by a retired civil servant. The OPW has not confirmed the rents paid for these homes, but figures from 2021 suggest average rents could be as low as €135 per month. A senior OPW source confirmed that some tenants previously identified by the newspaper are still residing at the location.
The homes are situated within a secure compound with 24-hour manned security and CCTV. Access to the site requires advance approval. The detached house on the property, built in 1894, underwent taxpayer-funded renovations to its roof.
Previous controversies involving the OPW include substantial expenditures on a Dáil bicycle shed, a security 'hut' at Government Buildings, and a wall outside the headquarters of the Workplace Relations Commission. However, sources within the OPW reportedly concede that the potential establishment of an asylum seeker reception center in Phoenix Park could be its most contentious move to date. The park itself is home to significant official residences, including Áras an Uachtaráin and Farmleigh.