The Mayor of Kerry is seeking a meeting with the Justice Minister to discuss concerns regarding a direct provision centre in Cahersiveen.
Fine Gael Cllr Patrick Connor Scarteen has written to Justice Minister Helen McEntee stating radical changes need to be made to the direct provision system.
He is asking her to meet a delegation of Kenmare Municipal District councillors and local Oireachtas members to discuss issues relating to the Cahersiveen direct provision centre.
Cllr Patrick Connor Scarteen is also calling on Minister McEntee to visit Cahersiveen, to hear from the centre’s residents.
Mayor of Kerry Patrick Connor Scarteen’s call comes as the residents of the Skellig Star Accommodation Centre in Cahersiveen continue their hunger strike.
The residents are demanding to be moved to other accommodation; 32 of them began a hunger strike yesterday.
Cllr Connor Scarteen says direct provision has been dealt with shambolically in Cahersiveen and says the centre needs to close without delay; he says it’s totally unsuitable and feels sorry for the residents, particularly the children.
The Mayor or Cathaoirleach of Kerry previously raised the issue with Leo Varadkar, when he was Taoiseach, and also highlighted the need for action by the Department of Justice at Kerry County Council meetings.
Meanwhile regarding the closure of BorgWarner, the Cathaoirleach of Kerry says his sympathies go out to the workers and their families.
He says the loss of 210 jobs in Tralee is a huge blow for Kerry.
He is calling on the Government to make any assistance available for workers and says the IDA also needs to urgently visit Kerry.
