A hotel in Co Wicklow has been closed due to a rodent infestation, which was declared a "grave and immediate risk to public health".
The infestation was discovered in the main kitchen area of The Glendalough Hotel in Glendalough last month, during an inspection by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).
Rodent droppings were found on the floor of the kitchen's internal dry store, below the dishwasher area and hot holding unit and on the floor below the pot wash area.
A rodent carcass and droppings were also discovered in the bar area.
The closure order was one of 14 issued by the FSAI for November, which cited rodent infestations, dead and live cockroaches and cigarette butts in food preparation areas as some of the reasons behind the orders.
In Co Kerry, the main kitchen and storage areas of McHales Catering Base and Stretford End Bar in Drumkeen Causeway were closed, after rodents were discovered under a fridge, and rodent droppings were found in corridors, a storeroom and on shelves. Floors, walls, and ceilings were also found to be "covered in dirt, grime, cobwebs".
Other premises ordered closed by the FSAI last month were Big Johns in Upper Mohill, Co Leitrim, where there was evidence of rodent activity and "a ponding of a grey sludge-like material from the discharge pipe leading from the potato preparation area".
Closure orders were also served on Umami (retailer) and United Foods (wholesale/distributor) on Main Street, Swords, Co Dublin; Bodega Cafe@Inspire in Clonmel, Co Tipperary and the Mekong takeaway on the Swords Road in Santry in Dublin.
Six closure orders were served under EU regulations and include a room being used as a food store at the Coffee Shack on Station Road in Castlebar, Co Mayo, where a dead rodent was found beside a small freezer, along with rodent droppings on shelves.
Benny's Kitchen at Tyrrellstown in Dublin was closed after it was found that the business owner was storing high risk food in a fridge and freezer in their bedroom, along with cooking utensils and food contact material.
