Government to buy Citywest Hotel for €148.2m

Recent figures revealed that Citywest received over €1.3m on average per week in 2024 for accommodating Ukrainians and International Protection (IP) applicants. File picture: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin

The Government is set to buy Citywest Hotel for €148.2m after securing approval from Cabinet.

Justice minister Jim O'Callaghan said the purchase represents value for money for the State, which is already spending millions of euros every month on renting the accommodation for refugees and asylum seekers. 

Mr O'Callaghan said that it is projected the investment will be recovered in four years and will represent a saving of €1.25bn over a period of 25 years.

Recent figures show that Citywest received over €1.3m on average per week in 2024 for accommodating Ukrainians and International Protection (IP) applicants.

There are currently no plans to increase capacity at the hotel and convention centre which can accommodate 2,300 people.

The department is in discussions to ensure the leisure centre on the campus, which has around 3,000 members, will remain open to the public.

Minister of State for Migration, Colm Brophy, defended the public engagement on the matter after local residents held a protest outside Leinster House last week.

"We are not changing the overall of what is happening in Citywest at this moment, in terms of numbers," said Mr Brophy, adding that the hotel has successfully been housing international protection applicants and Ukrainians.

It was assured that there would be full engagement with local public representatives and the community to ensure people are fully aware of what is happening and to support the community in their own involvement.

Mr Brophy said the plan is to develop the hotel to have a state-of-the-art processing facility where applications can be cleared within 13 weeks.

The purchase of the hotel is in keeping with the programme for government which commits to delivering 14,000 beds for asylum seekers by 2028, Mr O'Callaghan said.

He said reaching that target will require the Government to purchase more places around the country.

"I cannot give an indication as of yet how many there will be. It will depend on the number of accommodation units available in each centre but it is something we are going to pursue, to own accommodation as opposed to the alternative," said Mr O'Callaghan.

More to follow