The Department of Justice has rejected an offer of alternative accommodation for asylum seekers who want to be moved from a controversial direct provision centre in south Kerry. The centre has been mired in controversy since an outbreak of Covid-19 last month with asylum seekers, local people and politicians all calling for it to be shut down. Jude Kirk, who also owns a hotel in Derrynane, 25km away, wrote to the Department offering to house asylum seekers in eight four-bedroom homes which are on the site of his hotel. Mr Kirk said he made the offer of free accommodation because he felt sympathy for the plight of the asylum seekers in a centre which many now say is not fit for purpose. The Irish Examiner has learned that the staff in the DP centre in Cahirciveen did not receive full garda vetting for up to two weeks after the asylum seekers moved in.

Source: Irish Examiner May 15, 2020 05:15 UTC