Government faces paying interest to hotels due to late payments for accommodating Ukrainians

Integration Minister Roderic O Gorman: It is understood only four officials were working through invoices at one stage in his department — this increased to 20 personnel around Christmas but decreased again. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

The Government is facing paying interest to hotels as a result of late payments to providers which are accommodating Ukrainian refugees.

Hotels, hostels, and B&Bs are owed about €41m from the State as the Department of Integration has acknowledged there is a backlog of invoices that officials are working through.