Burke says there are no plans for more asylum seekers in Columb Barracks

The government has no plans to house more asylum seekers in Columb Barracks, Minister Peter Burke says.

A national media report today stated there are plans from the government to develop additional asylum seeker accommodation facilities in various part of the country.

The report in today's Irish Independent stated that: "More than 200 men will be housed at prefab units that will replace tents at the former military barracks in Mullingar", as well 400 men in an unnamed site in Athlone.

However, Minister Peter Burke has responded to the report today by denying the government has plans for such facilities in Westmeath.

Minister Peter Burke's office responded to the report this afternoon, saying: "There is no 'new strategy' as suggested in the reporting this morning. No new arrivals are due at either (Westmeath) location mentioned."

The minister's office said the memo cited in the Irish Independent story "was a briefing update provided to Ministers on the use of State-owned sites already in use, previously used, or in the case of Thornton Hall, being prepared for use.

"This information is in the public domain and not new," he added.

The Minister also said that "no new decisions were taken on foot of the update provided, and government will continue to engage with public representatives where accommodation is brought into use".

"We have contacted the Taoiseach’s office directly on this, and it remains the case that Thornton Hall is the only identified site at present where large-scale capacity is being developed," the email from Minister Burke's office concluded.