Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There is a huge problem I wish to address. We have to help those who are genuinely fleeing war and persecution, or famine, but, if you take County Laois, for example, the hotel in Monasterevin, which is a few hundred yards over the Kildare border and served a lot of north Laois, is gone for international protection use. The Montague Hotel, which is located on the old Dublin to Limerick and Cork road, is being used. The hotel in the centre of Portlaoise is being used. In the middle of Abbeyleix, the hotel is being used. In Durrow, the hotel is being used. Then one is out into County Kilkenny. Right in a row, five facilities within 40 minutes' drive of one another have been taken out and very little left behind. It is creating real problems. In fact, I tabled an oral question about it this morning, as did a number of Deputies from other parties, and I was trying to watch the screen to see whether it would come up in the Dáil but it was not reached. I understand we are in an emergency situation, but the point I am making is that there is the overall cost, which Mr. McCarthy confirmed was €1.5 billion last year.