Cockroaches found at a Monaghan Direct Provision Centre last year came "with a new resident's arrival".
Images were shared on social media of a resident at the Monaghan town site with a skin rash, which was claimed was caused by the insect.
While gaining prominence on social media in November, it's understood the cockroaches were detected in the St Patrick's facility in September.
In an email to the Department of Children responding to the media query last year, released to Northern Sound News under the Freedom of Information Act, the contractor outlined that cockroaches arrived over a month previous and "came into the centre with a new resident's arrival".
They said the infestation was limited to one block at the former agricultural college.
The closure of the dining hall for Covid-19 guidelines meant residents were eating in their own accommodation; so food waste, along with increased heating because of more time indoors, was put down as the cause for cockroach numbers increasing.
The Area Manager of the contracted pest control agent informed centre management that the insects came into the centre in residents' clothing brought from overseas, as well as from imported native foods.
Bait boxes and gel traps were provided, and the managing director of the pest control service recommended that each infected room be "fogged".
This three stage process began on October 1st last, and the management say the cockroaches had not returned when checked a month later.
Another outbreak was reported at the centre last month, but has been dealt with by pest controllers.
