The Justice Department has come under fire for the impending closure of the Clare Lodge in Ennis which houses asylum seekers in Clare.
The decision to close the facility by the end of this month has been described as "severe and ruthless"
The lodge is home to over 40 residents who are currently engaged in the asylum process.
In a letter sent to staff at the Clare Lodge on the Mill Road in Ennis, the Reception and Integration Agency, which is responsible for services for asylum seekers and refugees, states that as part of an ongoing review of their services, they have decided to close the Clare Lodge Accommodation Centre in the coming weeks.
The closure will be done on a phased basis, with 18 residents asked to leave by the 21st of this month which is Friday.
The remaining residents will have to leave the centre by the 29th of this month.
The move has been strongly criticised by the Ennis CDP and other groups.
The move comes just months after the Integration Minister Conor Lenihan, launched the Integrated Strategy for the Co-Ordination of Services to Immigrant Communities in Clare for 2009-2012
