The future of the D Hotel in Drogheda remains uncertain, with indications that it may continue to operate as an IPAS centre for at least another year or two.
The current contract with the Department of Immigration, Home Affairs and Justice is due to expire at the end of March. Despite efforts by local politicians to have the contract reviewed, no firm commitment has been given by Minister Jim O’Callaghan.
Labour TD Ged Nash dropped the bombshell that the D Hotel IPAS contract is being renewed and he claimed was told so by a Government Minister.
He said:“I had a very direct conversation with a key Minister last night.It was made clear to me that as far as they are concerned, the D Hotel contract is to be renewed. “I am told that I can expect a formal statement to be made in the coming days.The evasiveness from FF and FG needs to stop. A clear and unambiguous statement needs to be made by the relevant Ministers and government representatives locally on the status of the facility.
” Anything short of the return of our key local hotel to full economic use will represents another major blow delivered by this government to Drogheda’s economic future.””
The Dept of Justice has refused so far to make a statement despite several attempts hy Deputy Nash.
It is understood Department officials have been privately telling anyone who wants to hear that three different locations would be needed in the northeast to replace the D Hotel as a holding location for people seeking international protection.
Refugees who claim asylum are brought there first when they land in Ireland and then they and their families move to a more longer term location.
The loss of the D as a hotel for the town itself in March 2024 has had a devastating blow for tourism in the area.
There is a serious shortage of places to stay for visitors, business people and tourists alike.
Mayor Michelle Hall said:
“I think I am confident in saying that myself, and my colleagues in Drogheda BD are devastated that the government has consistently ignored our pleas, first when the contract was originally signed, but even more so now as it’s being renewed.
“The business community has said this is a loss of millions of euros in local spend and loss of business to Drogheda. We know a lot of retail businesses have closed, and footfall is down. This doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Every town that wants to thrive needs large-scale tourist accommodation, and Drogheda hasn’t got one. The Marcy and Scholars Townhouse hotels have been amazing to our town, but we need more bed space, and that means we need the D Hotel reopened, as was promised in 2024. Drogheda elected representatives from all sides have been united in this message, yet it has fallen on deaf ears because this government has not planned effectively to house people seeking asylum.
“Every councillor welcomes those who need refuge in Ireland while also recognising that taking the only large-scale hotel in Drogheda out of action long term, which this has become, is not serving the needs of our community and only makes people resentful. Ireland is an outlier in the EU by using tourist accommodation in this manner.
“I know residents in Drogheda understand that this is not a migrant problem but a centralised government decision. This is a double blow this week as the Minister for Education decided not to support schools supporting students from severely deprived areas in their DEIS+ designation.
“As Mayor of Drogheda, I would appeal to the Taoiseach to reverse both decisions. Drogheda needs all the support it can get and it’s in his hands to do so.”
TD Joanna Byrne also said she hopes the hotel will return to its original use.
“Two years ago, when the D Hotel was taken out of use for the public and tourists, we were in shock.
Overnight, and at the stroke of a pen, the only hotel in the town was taken away without any consultation with the local authority or without any consultation or communication with the elected representatives in the area. We got an email the night before to say that the contract had been signed.
“There was no consideration given to the impact this would have on the hospitality trade and the tourism trade, or to the effect it would have on the arts, tourism and the surrounding areas.
“The soul of the town was completely destroyed, and it is still trying to recover two years on. There is massive pressure from all elected representatives, both locally and nationally, for the contract not to be renewed.
“The reason that has been asked of the Government and the reason why a community impact assessment is needed is because what has happened has had a devastating impact. The ongoing lack of tourist accommodation in Drogheda is having a direct knock-on effect on local businesses.
Drogheda needs to have a large hotel if we’re to sustain a tourism industry. The impact of not having adequate tourist accommodation has been felt by local businesses, that much is clear to everybody.
“At the beginning of last month, I asked the Minister parliamentary questions on the occupancy rate and on if they are going to renew the contract.
“It is clear from the previous inspection report that gave a very low level of occupancy rate of only 89 people staying at the hotel, despite its capacity for up to 500 guests, that there is a compelling case for the D Hotel to be brought back to tourism use.
“Drogheda needs those tourism beds, and the local businesses need the tourists to be able to come to Drogheda and stay here. It is my sincere wish that the contract is not renewed, and we have the D Hotel back in business for locals and tourists alike to enjoy.”
More to follow as this story develops.
