The Department of Justice has denied it has any plans to again use the Skellig Star Hotel in Cahersiveen, Co Kerry, which has closed in recent days as a direct provision centre and has also undergone a name change.
Suspicion is growing locally that the hotel and apartments are to be used for further direct provision accommodation, or as a rehabilitation unit for prisoners by the Department.
The hotel also underwent a recent name change.
It opened as a direct provision centre during the pandemic in March, but within two weeks, several of the more than 100 of those transferred from centres in Dublin had tested positive for Covid-19.
Earlier in the year, the Department had denied it was planning to use the hotel as a direct provision centre.
Amid outrage at the lack of consultation and handling of the matter by his Department, the then justice minister Charlie Flanagan apologised to the people of Cahersiveen.
The hotel has now been closed as a direct provision centre, with the last residents transferred in recent days.
However, the name change has given rise to growing suspicions that the Department of Justice has further plans.
In a statement after a meeting this weekend, local Fianna Fáil Cllr Michael Cahill said the people of Caherciveen and South Kerry believe that the "wool has been pulled over their eyes" once again.
"Only days have passed since the last of the residents of the direct provision centre there were moved out, after many months of controversy. Now, it appears, some refurbishment of the property has been carried out and a new name has appeared over the door," said Cllr Cahill.
He raised the matter at a meeting of Kerry County Council last week.
Skellig Accommodation Centre appears on the front of the building now, instead of The Skellig Star Hotel, he said.
"Rumours are flying about the place and feelings are running extremely high once again. Many of the rumours include that it is former prisoners that are coming to the town and others include that it will be reopened as a direct provision centre."
Trust had been broken "too many times in the context of the Skellig Star Hotel and the Department of Justice," Cllr Cahill said.
He called on Kerry County Council to write to the Department of Justice.
Today, in response to a media query, the Department firmly ruled out any intention to reuse the premises.
"The Department has no involvement in the reopening of the hotel, the last remaining residents were transferred a number of weeks ago, and we have no plans to utilise it again," the statement said.
