Councillors in Drogheda are holding an emergency meeting today, over plans to use their largest hotel to house asylum seekers. 

The 113-bed, four star 'D Hotel' overlooks the River Boyne in the centre of the town.

Local Councillor Michelle Hall said the Department has confirmed it will house 500 International Protection applicants from March - and she's concerned about what that means for the town's tourism plans.

“I just don’t think the Government has taken into account how this will affect Drogheda,” she said. 

“We’re trying to revitalise the town, Fáilte Ireland has put it as a destination town for tourism; it’s a gateway to the Boyne Valley. 

“But if we don’t have town centre accommodation, it’s going to hugely affect our ability to draw numbers to Drogheda.” 

The Hugh De Lacy Bridge over the River Boyne in Drogheda, Co Louth in September 2014. Picture by: Ian Dagnall / Alamy Stock Photo

Cllr Hall said the town has a number of upcoming events for which people will require accommodation. 

“We have the comedy festival coming - and I hope people do still come to visit us,” she said. 

“We have the Lú Festival of Light which has hundreds of thousands coming to visit us. 

“We need this; we have Emerald Park beside us, we have Newgrange beside us, there’s no reason why Drogheda shouldn’t be teeming with tourists and we’ve been working really hard on the ground to build these festivals up.” 

Two year contract

In a statement, a spokesperson for the D Hotel Drogheda said the contract with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth would last for two years.

"The contract will be to accommodate international protection applicants; families, mothers and children in their 113 bedroom hotel located along the Boyne," the spokesperson said.

"The D Hotel was built 25 years ago and the intentions of the owners is to reinvest the funds paid to them from this contract directly into renovating the hotel.

"The hotel owners are committed to ensuring the longevity of the hotel for the next 25 years."

Last year, there were an estimated 80,000 Ukrainian refugees in Ireland and a further 26,000 people lodged international protection applicants too. 

Throughout the year, the Government has struggled to find appropriate accommodation for them all and has at times resorted to housing them in tents. 

Main image: D Hotel Drogheda. 15/02/2024. Picture by: Newstalk