The Justice Minister has been called on not to extend the contract of a hotel currently operating as an IPAS centre in the country’s largest town, reports The Mirror.
Members of Drogheda Borough District have formally asked Minister Jim O’Callaghan not to renew the contract for the D Hotel, citing the economic impact its continued closure is having on the local area, reports The Mirror.
The D Hotel has been used as an IPAS dispersal accommodation centre since March 2024, but it emerged last year that just 89 people were staying there despite capacity for up to 500 guests.
The Mayor of Drogheda, Cllr Michelle Hall, has written to Minister O’Callaghan on behalf of elected members seeking a meeting to discuss the future of the hotel, reports The Mirror.
Mayor Hall said: “Drogheda is a town with enormous potential, but it is also a town that has faced sustained economic and social pressures, reports The Mirror.
“The continued use of the D Hotel as an IPAS centre removes a vital asset from our local economy and places an additional burden on a community that is already struggling to compete and regenerate.”
Elected representatives stressed their stance is not aimed at people seeking international protection, but rather at a policy decision to use long-term dispersal accommodation in a manner they believe damages local economic recovery, reports The Mirror.
Mayor Hall added: “We fully acknowledge the State’s responsibility to provide humane and appropriate accommodation for people seeking refuge, reports The Mirror.
“However, this must be done in a way that is fair, balanced, and does not further disadvantage towns like Drogheda that are working hard to revitalise their economy, support local enterprise, and create jobs.”
Last year, Minister O’Callaghan rejected a request from Sinn Féin TD Joanna Byrne to reopen part of the D Hotel for tourism purposes, reports The Mirror.
Deputy Byrne raised the matter after a departmental inspection report found that only 89 people were staying at the hotel.
“After reading the last Department inspection report that stated there were only 89 people staying there when the hotel has room for 500 people, I thought it the opportune time to raise the matter directly with the Minister,” she said, reports The Mirror.
The Louth TD said the Minister declined to give updated occupancy figures but argued that if four-fifths of the rooms are unused, a dual-occupancy model allowing some tourism use should be reconsidered.
Deputy Byrne said the ongoing shortage of tourist accommodation in Drogheda is having a direct knock-on impact on local businesses, reports The Mirror.
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