Numbers to be limited, Dukes tells protesters

A cap would be put on the number of asylum seekers accommodated in Kildare - probably at around 150, a public meeting in the town was told last night.

Mr Alan Dukes TD told the meeting of about 250 people that this was one of a number of commitments made to him by the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue. Mr Dukes, Fianna Fail TD Mr Sean Power and Labour TD Mr Jack Wall had met the Minister on Thursday. The Minister, Mr Dukes said, also supported their request for the establishment of a consultation structure to provide liaison between the local community and those who will manage the accommodation of asylum seekers in the town.

"We also expressed the community's concerns regarding the security of people living immediately next to Magee Barracks (where the asylum seekers will be accommodated, in addition to 300 Kosovars already present), and their concerns that a wall should be built between them and the barracks," said Mr Dukes. "The Minister said he himself would support this request."

He also indicated that the Minister would endorse the town's concerns that medical, educational, recreational and other support services would not be able to cope with the suggested number of 450 asylum seekers.

Last night's meeting was called by Kildare Chamber of Commerce and Kildare Community Services (KCS), a local voluntary body. Miss Joan Conlan, secretary of KCS, said the meeting was called to bring the people of the town "up to speed" on the situation, and to prepare them for a public meeting on Wednesday night at which the Directorate on Asylum Seekers and Refugee Services would be answering local questions.

Earlier, more than 150 people demonstrated against the planned arrival of an estimated 400 asylum-seekers at the gates of Magee Barracks in Kildare town.

Many of the demonstrators carried placards criticising the Government and claiming that the town could not cope with the arrival of the asylum-seekers in addition to the Kosovars.

The demonstrators encouraged passing motorists to sound their horns in support, and a good many did.

An umbrella group representative of KCS, the chamber of commerce and residents' groups has been campaigning against the asylum-seekers initiative and had demanded that the number of refugees should be capped at an upper limit of 150.

It points out that this figure, along with the 300 Kosovars, would equate to 10 per cent of the town's population of 4,500.

Local people have been critical of what they see as a lack of detailed information from the Department of Justice.

In a statement the KCS said that no consultation had taken place before any decisions were made about the use of the barracks, and that this was vital for the integration of asylum seekers into the community.

It is understood that the chamber of commerce is considering taking legal action against the Minister for Justice.