Taoiseach Leo Varadkar informed the Dáil that efforts are being made by the government to allow tourists and asylum seekers to use the D Hotel in Drogheda, reports RTE.
He informed the town’s chamber of business that today’s meeting is with Roderic O’Gorman, the Minister for Integration.
Under a two-year contract with the Department of Integration, up to 500 persons are anticipated to be accommodated in the D Hotel starting on March 5.
When the D Hotel begins to host migrants in March, Drogeda will lose 56% of its tourism hotel beds, according to Labour TD Ged Nash, reports RTE.
He noted that there “needs to be a mitigation package” since the “economic impact of this decision is very real” and will cost the community €5.4 million.
Speaking warmly of Drogheda, Mr. Varadkar mentioned that his father had worked at Our Lady of Lourdes when he first arrived in Ireland.
“I know it’s a welcoming town to migrants,” he said, reports RTE.
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