The Government is to purchase a holistic retreat and conference centre on a seven-acre site in Co Carlow to accommodate asylum-seekers.
The Irish Times has learned that the Office of Public Works (OPW) is on the verge of finalising a deal to purchase the one-storey centre in Myshall, a small village in the foothills of Mount Leinster about 10 miles from Carlow town.
It is not known how many asylum-seekers could be accommodated in the building, and the OPW said yesterday it was not in a position to comment on the purchase.
However, it is understood that up to 40 asylum-seekers can be accommodated in the retreat centre, and the OPW is also looking at the possibility of placing asylum-seekers in temporary accommodation on the grounds of the centre.
Attempts to contact the owner of the centre for comment yesterday failed.
Rumours of the purchase have circulated in the area in the last week and it is understood that local people are anxious to establish exactly what the plans are.
Residents in Rosslare, Co Wexford, are protesting at the planned purchase by the Government of the Devereux Hotel near the port for asylum-seekers. Meanwhile, the Government's direct provision programme for asylum-seekers will be fully operational from Monday.
All asylum-seekers who enter the State after the weekend will be given full bed and board plus a small weekly payment of £15 per adult and £7.50 per child.
Up to now, asylum-seekers who have not been provided with full-board accommodation qualified for the full standard rate of weekly supplementary welfare allowance of £72.00 for a single adult and £115.20 for a couple. There was £13.20 per week for a dependent child.
On top of this, asylum seekers who lived in private rented accommodation qualified for rent supplement.
The Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr Ahern, revealed in answer to a parliamentary question this week that the total cost of these payments to asylum seekers last year was £35 million.
This comprised £23 million in basic weekly payments, £10.5 million in rent supplements and about £1.5 million in exceptional needs payments.
This compared to total expenditure of £22 million in 1998 and £12 million in 1997.
Mr Ahern told the Dublin Fianna Fail TD, Mr Noel Ahern, that since 1998, some 2,021 asylum seekers have been awarded child benefit in respect of 3,276 children.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Progressive Democrats, Mr John Minihan, has expressed his concern at the growth in racism in Irish society.
He has warned that there could be a number of candidates in the next general election cynically exploiting people's fears about immigration.