DUBLIN CITY centre business owners and residents have expressed concern and anger at a Department of Justice plan to open a probation centre near the Henry Street shopping district.
A public meeting last night heard arguments that the development would draw offenders and increase anti-social behaviour in the area, as well as reflecting badly on businesses and damaging trade and property values.
The Bridge Project, operated by the Prison Service with Department of Justice funds, has leased a 15,000sq ft premises at 23-31 Wolfe Tone Street where it plans to provide counselling and addiction therapy services to offenders aged between 20 and 25 years.
The traders and residents say that €1 million worth of refurbishment work is under way to make the premises fit for purpose, but that using the buildings for such operations would be a breach of planning regulations.
Planning enforcement officers from Dublin City Council have issued a warning letter to the Department of Justice to notify it that Wolfe Tone Street is not zoned for such a facility.
Richard Guiney, of the Dublin City Business Improvement District, told the meeting that the rehabilitation centre would go against the zoning set out in the Dublin City Development Plan.
The Department of Justice said it was aware of queries around the status of the planning permission and that the matter was being examined by its legal advisers.
