Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman is due to meet with local councillors in Drogheda today to discuss the future of the D Hotel.
Last week, the 13-bed, four star hotel overlooking the River Boyne announced it had signed a contract with the Department of Integration to host 500 international protection applicants for the next two years
Local councillors have said they were hugely concerned about the impact this would have on tourists’ ability to book accommodation in the town.
Drogheda Deputy Mayor Kevin Callan said the department did no “risk assessment” for Drogheda before deciding to accommodate asylum seekers in the hotel.
“Can packages be delivered to local businesses to ensure we keep people in employment?” he said.
“People in Drogheda want to help wherever and whenever they can.
“However, the Government has an obligation to help us and our local economy to get through this and to help those who need protection.”
'Dual use' hotel
Yesterday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar suggested using a “dual use” approach, where the hotel would accept some asylum seekers while remaining open to the public.
“[It’s been] done in my constituency, done in Dundalk, it can be done; we think that’s the best solution,” he said.
The D Hotel itself, however, has said that “dual use of the hotel is not possible for child protection reasons”.
Mr Callan said that “from a practical approach”, allowing asylum seekers and tourists into the hotel “could work”.
“And as I said, people in Drogheda fully understand people need to see protection and assistance.
“At the same time, we understand that we've put in over 10 years of work to develop our tourism industry in the time and we're extremely reliant upon it.”
Throughout the year, the Government has struggled to find appropriate accommodation for them all and has at times resorted to housing them in tents.
