The State purchase of the Citywest Hotel and Convention Centre for international protection accommodation is now completed.
The purchase of the site is a key part of the Government’s strategy to develop a stable and sustainable accommodation system for people seeking international protection. State-owned centres are part of the Government’s long-term plan to reduce the reliance on private accommodation providers resulting in better value for money of public funds and a more efficient international protection system.
The Community Engagement Team was established at the end of 2023. In line with commitments in the Programme for Government, since the purchase of the site was confirmed, the Community Engagement Team has been engaging broadly with local stakeholders, including members of the Community Integration Forum in South Dublin County Council.
Prior to the establishment of the Community Engagement Team, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth (DCEDIY) would have had engagement with local stakeholders in relation to some sites. However, a formal team and approach to engagement was not in place before the establishment of the Community Engagement Team at the end of 2023.
The Department is committed to ensuring that the local community has access to accurate information and that structures to plan for provision of essential and support services, such as healthcare and education, are in place to assist with the integration process.
Since 19 June 2025, the Community Engagement Team has held 8 engagement meetings with stakeholders and provided 7 information notes to local elected representatives.
A dedicated webpage to support the community to keep them informed of developments has been published at www.gov.ie/citywest.
The website is updated with all issues raised at engagement meetings, or included in information notes.
