The Taoiseach has warned that Ireland “cannot tolerate” illegal immigration and insisted the State is increasing security at points of entry.

Leo Varadkar was speaking amid controversy over protests against a planned asylum seeker centre on Achill Island.

In an interview with the Sunday Independent, he said illegal immigrants from Georgia and Albania were a “big driver” behind a rise in the number of asylum seekers in the country.

He said there has been a 60% increase in asylum seekers in recent years but said the country is not being “swamped or flooded” – with the number arriving far lower than it was 15 of 20 years ago.

“There are, however, a lot of people from Georgia and Albania coming in with fake documents and that is the big driver of the increase,” he said.

“There are lots of ways to enter Ireland legally with a visa or work permit so we cannot tolerate illegal entry.”

He said controls are being stepped up at airports around the country and insisted they are having an effect.

It comes as ongoing protests forced the Government to pause its plans to home 13 vulnerable women in a hotel on Achill Island.

There have also been protests against the opening of Direct Provision centres in Oughterard, County Galway and Ballinamore, County Leitrim in recent weeks.

Mr Varadkar said the Government was in talks with homeless charities to find accommodation for people who have been granted refugee status but have nowhere to live.

He said this could free up spaces for those in Direct Provision who are still awaiting a decision.