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JUST days ahead of the confirmation that Linden House would be used as an accommodation centre for asylum seekers, Kerry County Council member Donal Grady had called for the property to open its doors to homeless people in Killarney.

Speaking to Killarney Advertiser, the former mayor of Killarney said: “The council should open up Linden House on New Road to homeless people and not send these people to Tralee. We should look after our own first. There are at least 25 homeless people in Killarney at the moment and people who are homeless in this town continue to be sent to Tralee for accommodation. We are miles behind other counties when it comes to catering for homeless people.”

Cllr Grady is now planning a protest at the former hotel on New Road, next week. “We have fulfilled our duty in Killarney, re asylum seekers,” he said.

Referring to the fact that the road features four schools, Cllr Grady said a number of parents had been in touch with him in relation to the protest and added: “This proposal by whom is not known as yet is where our children and grandchildren are going to school.”

Linden House, he added, was a property “lying idle”. “Shame on us for not doing something,” he said. “People are sleeping rough or are being sent to Tralee.”

The use of the former hotel in Killarney to house 55 asylum seekers has sparked concerns at a lack of consultation.

The Department of Justice has confirmed Linden House, which was formerly used as a direct provision centre, has been refurbished and will become home to people currently in the asylum and refugee process.

It declined to comment on the breakdown of age, gender or country of origin of those that will be accommodated in Killarney.

Kerry Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae said he believed the group of 55 comprises “all males of mixed nationality who have made applications for international protection”.

He told Killarney Advertiser: “I believe the local authority and local community should have been consulted on this important matter as to who these people are, where they are coming from and what is the expected plan for long term housing, as it seems like a large concentration of people in the one location. I share the concerns of the people who have been in contact with me about this matter."

Deputy Healy-Rae added: "As these people will only be housed in temporary accommodation, I believe that a number of these people may seek social housing in time, which would be only putting increased pressure on an already large waiting list for housing in Killarney and Kerry."