Protest against Government's purchase of CityWest hotel to be held this evening

Sarah Slater

A protest by a residents group against the Government’s multi-million euro purchase of Citywest hotel in Dublin to increase international protection applicants accommodation is to be held this evening.

The Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan announced earlier on Tuesday that the Cabinet approved the State purchase of Citywest Hotel and Convention Centre as an international protection accommodation for €148.2m.

Minister O’Callaghan’s announcement comes after several months of negotiations and disquiet among the local Citywest community.

The Minister highlighted that owning the hotel and conference centre, rather than leasing it would provide great “value for money” and long-term saving for the state.

He added: “In a sector that has seen extremely high costs in recent times, purchasing Citywest makes prudent financial sense for the State compared to costs of leasing the site. The purchase represents a payback period to the State of approximately four years, and over 25 years, the purchase and operating cost model offer savings of more than €1billion, while delivering a permanent State asset.”

Minister O’Callaghan said he is “committed” to reforming Ireland’s international protection system to ensure its efficiency and robustness.

He noted that a “stable and sustainable accommodation network” is a central element of that reform.

“My goal is to improve processing systems so that people can receive a decision quickly and fairly, curtailing the need for constant growth in our accommodation system. Purchasing Citywest is a hugely significant step towards achieving this,” he said.

In a statement the Saggart Village Residents Association said they are “very disappointed,” with the government’s plans.

The statement added: “There was no indication that the decision was going to be made this quickly and that it happened without any community engagement is very disappointing.

“Value for money is just one aspect of such a decision, the loss of the Hotel and Convention Centre, and the permanent addition of an IPAS centre is a significant impact on a village that was already under pressure.”

The hotel has been used to accommodate Ukrainian refugees and asylum seekers since 2022. The site has the capacity to accommodate up to 2,300 people. It was first used by the state as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, legal action is being considered by the Stop Citywest Hotel Purchase residents group also based in Saggart. The group held a drive slow protest on the N7 last Friday and a protest outside the Dáil last Wednesday.

A spokesperson for the group claims that the government’s decision to purchase Citywest Hotel and convert it into a permanent refugee center will have an “irreversible effect on our village”.

The spokesperson continued: “Such an action will not only strain local infrastructure and resources but also place significant stress on both the existing and newly arrived” people.

“Both groups are likely to suffer from inadequate integration efforts, which are essential for fostering mutual understanding and harmony.”

The group pointed out that “transforming such a significant local landmark into a permanent center is affecting local businesses reliant on tourism and disrupting the quiet ambiance many of us value. It is causing challenges in community integration and our security.”

They claim the move will place a burden on public services, such as education, healthcare, and transportation, and “we have seen very little help from the government for our village”.

The group is holding another protest in Saggart village this evening at 6.30pm at Jacob’s B