Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister referred to the €10 million support scheme that is open. That is a mere drop in the ocean compared with what is actually needed. That is for the entire country. The Minister is aware that Drogheda has lost its largest hotel, the D Hotel, and that is the second hotel it has lost. I hope she is aware that the number of bedrooms available for tourist accommodation in the town has been reduced by 61% since 2022. There is a total capacity of just 91 beds in the largest town in Ireland. When we talk about tourism and tourism plans, a town stripped of its tourist accommodation is on the wrong footing from the start. The economic impact assessment commissioned by Love Drogheda BID has shown a direct loss of over €6 million and an indirect impact of over €15 million on the local economy. What plans does the Minister have to remedy this specifically? What funding will be made specifically available to Drogheda for this? Restaurant owners, shopkeepers, tourist attractions and other businesses are feeling the knock-on effect of the loss of accommodation in the town. The loss of accommodation is a direct result of Government policy.

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