Hotels are resuming full tourist operations after more than 90 accommodation contracts for Ukrainian refugees concluded in Kerry alone.
Dozens of state accommodation contracts are ending as the country transitions thousands of hotel and B&B beds back to the tourism and hospitality sector.
The return of these properties is injecting vital capacity back into regional hot spots ahead of peak holiday seasons:
- Kerry: More than 90 contracts have closed over the past two years. Notable properties like the Whitegates Hotel in Killarney and the Ring of Kerry Hotel in Cahersiveen have formally exited the system.
- Clare: Hotel contracts fell sharply from 31 to 18 within a 12-month period, freeing up over 1,500 local tourist beds.
- Westmeath: Historic landmarks, such as the former Prince of Wales Hotel in Athlone, have completed renovations and re-opened to travelers under new branding.
The Department of Justice has confirmed a structured, phased wind-down of commercially contracted spaces. This move aims to completely transition away from using standard tourist lodging for emergency refugee housing.
The scale of the capacity returning to the commercial travel market is substantial:
- Contracts Ended (2024): 420 contracts terminated, releasing over 15,000 beds.
- Contracts Ended (2025): 195 contracts closed, returning nearly 12,000 beds.
- Active Contracts Remaining: About 510 to 530 state contracts are still in operation, supporting approximately 16,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection.
The government has approved a definitive strategy to phase out remaining commercial tourist contracts entirely:
- August 2026: The official launch of the systematic withdrawal of state-contracted commercial properties. Impacted individuals and property owners receive at least three months’ notice prior to contract terminations.
- March 2027: The target deadline to end all state-provided commercial tourist accommodation for Ukrainian refugees.
The Department of Justice, alongside organizations like the Irish Red Cross and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), is offering transitional support. Residents who wish to remain in the state system are being offered alternative placements in non-commercial settings. Others are transitioning to independent living within the private rental market or enrolling in voluntary return programmes.
Properties are shifting back to catering for holidaymakers, with other centres also returning to original hospitality uses. This transition supports the local tourism sector in one of Ireland’s key visitor destinations and aids recovery in the hospitality industry
