Loss of D Hotel to tourism a ‘huge economic loss - McGinty

The shutting down of a major hotel in Drogheda to accommodate international protection applicants will be “a huge economic loss to the town,” according to Labour Cllr Elaine McGinty.

Up to 500 people are expected to be housed in the D Hotel from March 5th, in a two-year contract with the Department of Integration.

The owners of the D Hotel will receive just under €13 million a year for housing over 400 refugees.

Councillors in Drogheda have written to Minister for Integration Roderic O'Gorman seeking an immediate meeting about the matter.

On Saturday hundreds of demonstrators took part in a protest in Drogheda on Saturday to oppose the conversion of the town’s only large hotel into an asylum seeker centre.

“The lack of engagement by government is not acceptable,” said Laytown/Bettystown Cllr McGinty.

“It will be a huge economic loss to the town. It’s the central hotel in the town for tourism and the knock on impact is not in the town’s interest,” she added.

“I think they have really got it wrong.”

McGinty pointed out that although this move will have an impact on all areas around Drogheda, a meeting held last week was only for Drogheda Municipal District members with no public representative outside of Louth invited.

“It calls into question the need for greater cooperation between councils and government also,” added the Labour Cllr.

“There needs to be a plan on how we are going to invest in services to provide for everybody. How can you find €25m for a hotel yet you have an embargo on recruiting staff in a hospital when you have so many new people in the area.

“There is a huge amount of derelict buildings in Drogheda they could house way more than 500 and bring the town back to life.”

Fine Gael Cllr Sharon Tolan said she didn’t believe it was fair that “operational hotels are being shut down completely and used for what essentially is direct provision.”

“It’s unfair on people who have their weddings booked and festivals organised, all events that bring badly needed economic tourism to the town.

“Drogheda and East Meath have always been welcoming with Mosney on our doorstep. There has never been an issue with welcoming and integration but with this particular decision I think there is a negativity already around it and that is no fault of the people who will be arriving.”