Department refuses to rethink housing 70 international protection applicants in Killarney

Kerry County Council’s Director of Services for Community and Economic Development said that Killarney's GP and other services are 'at capacity'

Education Minister Norma Foley told Radio Kerry on Friday that the capacity of Kerry to accommodate international protection applicants going forward needed to be looked at "in the main and in the round".

The Department of Integration has rejected a call from Kerry County Council's executive to reconsider opening a further International Protection Centre in the heart of Killarney because of the pressure on services.

A total of 70 male international protection applicants are to be accommodated in the Kingscourt Harmony Inn, on the Muckross Road. Some of the men are expected to arrive at the hotel on Sunday, with more arriving on Monday.