Work has started on a £5 million accommodation centre for up to 400 asylum-seekers near Dublin Airport, which is due to open early next year. The prefabricated buildings will be constructed on an eight-acre site at Balseskin, Co Dublin, leased from a local farmer.
A spokesman for the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform said the site would provide accommodation for 120 families and single parents.
The buildings will be arranged around a central quadrangle, with recreation facilities, shops, welfare services and a dining area. The facility will be similar to the former holiday camp in Mosney, Co Meath, which currently houses asylum-seekers.
Residents will be free to come and go, but will be required to account for their movements.
The asylum-seekers will be provided with meals and laundry facilities. They will receive £15 "comfort money" per adult per week and £7.50 per child.
Meanwhile, the Union of Nigerian Citizens Resident in Ireland is planning a protest in Dublin next Thursday over an agreement signed by the Government with the African state that will speed up the deportation of hundreds of failed asylum-seekers.
The Minister of State, Ms Liz O'Donnell, yesterday rejected as unfounded reports that the readmission agreement, due to be signed this month, includes £8.8 million in aid for Nigeria.
The Nigerian ambassador in Ireland, Chief Elias Nathan, was unavailable for comment yesterday. He left for Nigeria a few days ago and it is understood he will meet the Nigerian President.