Government expected to announce it will buy Citywest Hotel
The Government is to purchase the Citywest Hotel in Dublin which is currently being used to house international protection applicants.
Justice minister Jim O'Callaghan is expected to announce the details of the sale of the hotel this afternoon.
Citywest has been the subject of much controversy in recent years over its use as an IPAS centre.
Last week, protesters against the purchase of the hotel gathered outside Leinster House.
Independent TD Paul Gogarty visited the protest and said local residents had the "right to make a point".
Mr Gogarty said he supported local residents questioning why the Government was looking to purchase the hotel.
Recent figures revealed that Citywest received over €1.3m on average per week in 2024 for accommodating Ukrainians and International Protection (IP) applicants.
The data shows that the €68.27m (including vat) was paid out to Cape Wrath UC, which is owned by investment group Tetrarch Capital and runs the 764-bed Citywest Hotel and convention centre in Saggart, Co Dublin.
This represents a 27% increase on the €53.7m paid out to the hotel firm in 2023.
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