A third direct provision centre is to open in Co. Clare.
The Clare Lodge, located in the centre of Ennis, which was used as a direct provision centre up until 2009, will welcome its first residents before the end of this month.
The Clare Lodge is located on Mill Road in Ennis, and was used as a Direct Provision centre for around a decade until 2009.
In correspondence seen by Clare FM, the Department of Justice has told local elected representatives that it will now re-open as a direct provision centre, housing 64 single adults.
Half of them will move in before the end of this month, with the remainder coming in January.
The accommodation has undergone a refurbishment in recent times, and the Department says it will include ‘independent living’ for its residents, including cooking facilities.
The centre will be run by Bridgestock Care Ltd., which operates existing centres in Ballyhaunis and Sligo.
Here, they will employ 15 people.
Ireland has seen a 60% increase in the number of asylum seekers arriving here this year, resulting in moves by the Department to seek additional accommodation.
This will be the third direct provision centre in Clare, following Knockalisheen and Lisdoonvarna, and the 40th such facility in Ireland.
