The Department of Justice is considering sending asylum seekers to the site of an old military camp at Knockalisheen, Co Clare. The Department would only confirm yesterday that the site is being examined by the Office of Public Works.
The Clare county manager, Mr William Moloney, has contacted local county councillors and, according to Cllr Tony McMahon (FG), they were told that the number of asylum-seekers mentioned was around 400.
A notice in the Clare Champion newspaper at the weekend said the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform was giving notice that he had made an order pursuant to the powers conferred on him under Section 2 of the Local Government Planning and Development Act, 1993, in relation to the proposed development of the lands attached to the Knockalisheen military site.