Plans for a centre for international protection applicants in Oldcastle is causing concern in the community and a meeting to discuss the issue is planned for tonight. Sinn Fein TD Johnny Guirke told Meath Live that there is concern in the community over an application to Meath County Council to have exempted planning for a hotel in Cogan Street. He said the issue is not about international protection applicants but the dearth of accommodation in the town.
“We have hundreds of people employed in businesses in and near the town and this move will mean that the town won’t have a hotel. There are only two bed and breakfasts establishments here. If we want business people and visitors to the town where are they going to stay? It’s a genuine issue and people have raised the issue with me in conversations over the last few days”.
“Oldcastle is a welcoming town and people don’t discriminate against anyone.”, he said. A decision from the council over the planning for the hotel is expected by the end of the month.
Cllr Peter Caffrey
Sinn Fein Cllr Peter Caffrey said that the town is very short on hotel facilities. There have been a lot of visitors to the town over the years and many wedding receptions were held in the town but he wondered what would happen if the last prominent hosting venue in the town was lost. The hotel has not been open to paying guests for the last two years but there had been hopes in the town that it would reopen.
