The site is expected to cease entirely from next year.
'Haphazard' and 'dysfunctional' - that's how a Westmeath councillor is describing Minister Roderic O' Gorman's approach to asylum seeker integration.
Aengus O'Rourke is speaking after the Department of Integration conceded a case from Athlone councillors against the development of an accommodation centre with a capacity of 1 thousand.
Works have paused on the site in Lissywollen and are expected to cease entirely by next year.
Fianna Fáil rep O'Rourke says 'shoehorning' large groups into one location is the wrong approach to the issue: