A second State-owned international protection accommodation service (Ipas) centre has been evacuated in Co Kerry due to pest infestation.
Around 80 people, including families and single females, have been moved from the Johnston Marina Ipas centre on the outskirts of Tralee.
Last month the Atlas House centre in Killarney was also evacuated at short notice. Both centres are long established in the towns.
The Department of Justice confirmed the “relocations of residents from Atlas House and Johnston Marina Ipas centre are related to pest control issues at the accommodation centres”.
The department said the residents have been temporarily moved while essential maintenance is carried out.
“We are working to minimise any disruption to residents and to ensure they will be able to return to their accommodation as soon as possible,” the spokesman said.
Management at the centre said it regretted the inconvenience to residents, but said it has “to respond quickly when any issues arise that impact the health and wellbeing of residents”.
Almost 90 residents were moved from Atlas House on July 21 to Athlone, which was also temporary. However, they have not yet returned and had only been informed the previous day. It is understood the Killarney issue is related to ants.
Restaurants and other tourist establishments in Killarney were left short-staffed.
In Tralee, it is not known which pest was involved. Many of the residents there have been moved to Galway, it is understood.
Both centres are owned by the State, and are privately operated on a contractual basis by a private company — Onsite Facilities Management Ltd.
The latest Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) report published in November last year on foot of an inspection carried out in July 2025, noted the Tralee centre contained 34 bedrooms, all of which had their own bathroom facilities.
At the time of the inspection, Johnston Marina accommodated 73 residents, of which 53 were adults and 20 were children. The centre accommodated families and single females.
There was evidence of routine checks for pests in some rooms as well as the removal of mould. Overall, it found the Johnston Marina Centre safe and comfortable.
With Atlas House, the unannounced inspection by Hiqa earlier this year was largely positive, but accommodation at the centre “was crowded and cluttered”, the report said.
Hiqa found the centre to not be compliant with requirements to keep the area clean and to respect and promote the independence of residents in doing their own laundry and cleaning.
It said there were “insufficient laundry facilities available to meet the needs of residents”. Hiqa said some residents at the centre had received notices to look for private accommodation and move out of the centre.
Residents had previously raised concerns to Hiqa about getting access to furniture and bedding to meet their needs and also on the limited living space at the centre. These issues were found to have been addressed since the last visit.