Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for keeping in very regular contact with me on this issue. I know the pressure the loss of the hotel has caused in the local community. We need to move away from a reliance on hotel accommodation for asylum seekers. That is what is being looked at in the new accommodation strategy the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, has brought forward. We certainly need to support towns like Drogheda in terms of the impact on tourism. As the Deputy said, we have already worked together to take a number of steps to support Drogheda. I would be very happy to accept his invitation to visit the town and meet with local businesspeople and residents on this matter.

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