The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism has criticised a move by the HSE South to formally evict a rugby club from its grounds, which are part of a large land bank owned by the health authority in Killarney.
The Killarney rugby football club, which has 180 registered members, has leased the five acres at Derreen from the HSE since 1993 on short-term contracts.
It has not been offered an alternative location within the tract of more than 24 hectares (60 acres) of lands owned by the HSE in the St Finan's psychiatric hospital and ring road area of Killarney. The club will have no place to go should it fail in its effort to fight the order.
There have been several attempts by public representatives and the club over the years to put the arrangement on a more permanent footing.
Club secretary Declan Fuller, one of those named in the eviction notice, said because of the price of land in Killarney, the club would have to depend on some public body for grounds.
John O'Donoghue, a TD for the area, said he was extremely disappointed with the HSE's stance. He has been lobbying for some years for a more permanent arrangement for the club.
A statement from the HSE South yesterday said it was made clear to the rugby club "from the very beginning" the land was not for long-term use. The plans are to develop the Derreen lands for facilities for the community.