Locals in Rosslare Harbour, Co Wexford, have protested against plans to house asylum seekers in a former hotel.
Up to 100 people at a time marched in relays from the village to the entrance of Rosslare Europort to highlight their concerns regarding the possible location of at least 170 international protection applicants, and as many as 400, in the former Great Southern Hotel, overlooking the harbour.
A decision on the planning status of the hotel, which was formerly designated for conversion into a nursing home, is due to be made shortly by An Bord Pleanála.
People in the area have been maintaining a vigil on the roadside near the property in recent weeks, after the plans from the Department of Children, Integration and Equality emerged, and up to 2,000 people took part in a major rally near the port three weeks ago.
Traffic was delayed significantly by the protest yesterday evening.
Trucks heading to the port along with cars and vans were in heavy traffic stretching as far as the village of Tagoat, 3km from their destination.
Gardaí and port management said a traffic management plan was in place to deal with the situation.
The plan, according to gardaí in the area, was designed to minimise disruption to road users, particularly those travelling to make ferry sailings.
The protest was designed to slow down traffic going to and from the busy port and to also coincide with an announcement of the next phase of plans for an offshore wind energy hub at Rosslare.
Management at the port said they have made a formal application to the new Maritime Area Regulatory Authority for Marine Area Consent (MAC) to continue with plans for an energy hub, and also that the contract for the design of the hub has been awarded to Nicholas O'Dwyer and partners Gavin and Doherty Geosolutions Consultants.
Nursing home 'promised' - committee member
Seán Grant of the Save Our Nursing Home committee said they were "promised a nursing home" for the area, rather than a centre for refugees.
He said: "I think Rosslare Harbour here has done our fair share. We have three IPAS (International Protection Accommodation Services) centres already in the village, we've been very welcoming to those people and they've settled into the community here, but to put a fourth one here in the village is just beyond.
"We've no resources or facilities for it in the area, it's a small little village. The Europort is the European port of the year and is a busy hub down there.
"The village can't take this IPAS centre.
"We have two gardaí, the local school is full to capacity at the moment and we have one supermarket in the village."
Local resident Kathleen Doyle said they wanted the original plan of a nursing home for the village, rather than another IPAS centre.
She said: "We have enough already. It was planned for a nursing home and that's what we hope to get. So with the help of God we'll get it, before we get too old."
Her sister Connie McCabe said the area needs a nursing home.
"We deserve to see that place open for us," she said, adding that they will continue the protest "as long as I can walk on these two legs".
'A lot of frustration' - Minister of State
Minister of State James Browne, who is also a TD for Wexford and attended the announcement at the port, said: "There's a lot of frustration with people locally, they feel they were promised a nursing home, that has changed.
"The matter has now gone before An Bord Pleanála and I think what we really need to wait and see is what An Bord Pleanála say in relation to the proposed change of use and review it then when we have those answers."
In its most recent statement on the issue, the Department of Children, Equality and Integration said the International Protection Procurement Service is "still considering the offer of accommodation" in respect of the former hotel building and that, until the planning matters have been concluded, the department will not enter into a contract.
However, the department added that Minister Roderic O'Gorman has said that he "is not in a position to discount any offer of accommodation, given the acute shortage of availability and the continued high demand for accommodation for those seeking international protection."
Minister O'Gorman also said that he will update local representatives of any developments in relation to any potential opening date for the property as it arises.
