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clareecho.ie
Jul 27 2023
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4 out of 10 hotel rooms used by asylum seekers Clare tourism chiefs write to Minister by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie
lOver 2,500 cyclists made their way across much of the Banner County on Saturday, taking in breathtaking views at the annual Škoda Ring of Clare Cycle which is worth an estimated €1m to the local economy. Pictured is 4 year old Jack Graham and his sister Eibhin (2) outside their home in Killimer watching the bikes go by Photo by Arthur Ellis
CLARE has experienced a 37% reduction in the amount of bednights available in the county due to the repurposing of hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses for accommodating International Protection Applicants. This has prompted the Clare Tourism Advisory Forum to write to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman (GP) expressing “serious concern” on the impact to the local tourism and hospitality sector. Repurposing of hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses to accommodate asylum seekers “has resulted in a significant loss to the local tourism economy and has, consequently, impacted County Clare’s competitiveness”. Hotel operators in Clare last year shared out a €21.27m bonanza for accommodating Ukrainains, White’s Hotels which owns hotels in Lisdoonvarna received €6.49m alone in 2022. Meanwhile in Shannon, officials in the Department of Integration have yet to comment on reports that a vacant unit in the Industrial Estate will now
accommodate 600 asylum seekers. The Clare Echo had first reported in February that an approximate 300 individuals would be housed at the site.
lGerry Flynn Photo by Chris Copley
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) said the potential of 600 International Protection Applicants in the one unit was “off the charts”. He added, “We’ve seen too much of a focus on Co Clare, the Government seem to be insisting on pushing more and more on areas that can’t support it, It is like a population explosion”. Full story Page 4