Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2026
668. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reason a company (details supplied) was paid more in asylum accommodation payments for the last quarter of 2025 than it was in the last quarter of 2024, given that the State purchased both the Citywest Hotel and Convention Centre, which make up the greater part of the accommodation supplied by the former owner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16839/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra669. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the way the State's purchase of the Citywest Hotel and Convention Centre can be justified as a saving in public funding given that the former owners continue to be paid for the provision of accommodation, and at a higher level than before the sale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16840/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 668 and 669 together.
The purchase of Citywest Hotel and Convention Centre was completed in August 2025. State-owned centres like Citywest are part of the Government’s long-term plan to reduce reliance on private accommodation providers, resulting in better value for money of public funds and a more efficient international protection system.
The purchase was approved following an extensive due diligence process, including appropriate survey, legal review, and independent valuation, in line with the Government Infrastructure Guidelines. These guidelines set out the value for money guidelines for the evaluation, planning and management of public investment projects, including purchase or acquisitions of assets or shareholdings, in Ireland.
It is not the case that the contracted nightly rate being paid to the provider is higher since the transfer of ownership to the State. I assure the Deputy that the savings to the State in relation to this purchase are considerable.
We are moving from a status of leasing the whole site, and paying for day-to-day services, to a model where the site is State owned, with ongoing costs for accommodation provisions services to residents.
Since the purchase, a transitional service agreement is in place for the provision of accommodation and related services on the site, which now covers both the Hotel and the Convention Centre. Prior to the purchase services for Hotel and the Convention Centre were contracted separately.
While the Department treats details of contracts and rate as commercially sensitive, the nightly contracted cost for accommodation post-purchase represents improved value for money for the State.
In addition, as both payment systems and publication of payments have been subject to an ongoing transfer of functions to this Department in 2025, payments published during 2025 do not yet reflect the reduction in contracted costs arising from the purchase process.
The purchase of the site and overall expenditure on accommodation will form part of the 2025 Appropriation Account in due course, which will be subject to audit by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG).
