Short notice given to Ukrainian refugees in Killarney 'not acceptable'
There was applause after Mayor of Killarney Niall Kelleher announced that Ukrainian families would be allowed to stay in Killarney on Wednesday morning. Picture: Don MacMonagle
A controversial proposal to move 135 Ukrainian women and children from Killarney to Mayo later on Wednesday has been reversed, the can reveal.
Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman and his officials have decided, under significant pressure from Government colleagues, to put a stop to the move to Westport of the women and children.
The can confirm that alternative accommodation has been secured in the Killarney area which will allow the families to remain in the community and schools they have settled.
Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys said that the short notice given to the Ukrainian refugees was "not acceptable" and that it should not happen again.
"I think that for somebody to get only 48 hours' notice is not acceptable to be straight with you. There's kids in school, I don't know their individual circumstances, but Minister O'Gorman has said now that that's it that that's not going ahead and I welcome that fact.
"Sometimes decisions are made for the right reasons under unintended consequences and that was wrong and it was right to reverse it."
In a statement issued on Wednesday morning, the Department of Integration confirmed the planned move of Ukrainian displaced persons from Killarney to Westport “will now not proceed”. It said it has worked intensively overnight to source alternative accommodation for the Ukrainians affected in Killarney.
“In light of these efforts, the move to Westport will not proceed, with those affected remaining in Killarney in new accommodation. Ipas officials will be in touch with the families to let them know about accommodation arrangements,” the department said.
The wider situation regarding accommodation remains extremely challenging, it warned, saying the transit centre at Citywest is nearing capacity.
The possibility of a pause on entry to new arrivals due to a countrywide shortage of accommodation cannot be discounted, it warned.
Ireland is now accommodating 55,000 people between those fleeing Ukraine and International Protection applicants, compared to 7,500 last year.
The department is mindful of the impact that all such moves have on those affected and will continue to deliver a humanitarian response to the needs of Ukrainian displaced persons and those seeking international protection.
The decision to axe the move to Mayo will not prevent the relocation of up to 200 men who are currently seeking asylum in Ireland.
Speaking on Wednesday morning, Education Minister Norma Foley welcomed the u-turn saying it was “the right decision”.
“I welcome this decision by my Cabinet colleague Roderic O’Gorman and I want to thank him for the manner in which he engaged with me personally on this matter. This is the right decision. It is hugely important where we had families who were so well-integrated into the community that we afford them every opportunity to continue to grow and nurture those ties,” she said.
Ms Foley also paid tribute to the local community in Killarney for making the families so welcome.
There was considerable anger among locals in Killarney and within the Government on Tuesday at the attempts to move the Ukrainian women and children.
Due to a sharp increase in the number of people seeking asylum in Ireland, the accommodation system is buckling.
The Hotel Killarney secured a contract to house those in direct provision, but some of its 500 beds were used to house Ukrainian refugees temporarily.
The facility in Mayo was set to only house Ukrainians and not those in direct provision, hence the need to move the women and children there, Mr O’Gorman had said.
A source at the hotel said the Ukrainian women were distraught at the news. Several are working, including seven at the hotel itself. Others are working in businesses in the town centre.
Ms Foley had earlier appealed to Mr O’Gorman to find a solution to allow the women and children to remain in Killarney where they have settled since fleeing the war.
Fine Gael TD Brendan Griffin slammed the plan as an “outrageous proposal”.
At a private meeting with Mr O’Gorman, Mr Griffin said he could source enough accommodation to house all the women and children affected. He said he would not accept the relocation, and called on Mr O’Gorman and his officials to “solve the red tape” problem.
However, Mr O’Gorman and his officials previously rejected this proposal, as many of the residences are not properly registered or vetted for approval.
The Ukrainian community in the Killarney hotel, including up to 40 school-going children, received less than 48 hours' notice they were to be bussed to Westport.
The formal confirmation, in writing, was issued on Monday at 3pm.
Moving asylum-seekers into a hotel and moving out Ukrainian refugees who have been there since March “does not make any sense”, the mayor of Killarney, Niall Kelleher, had told a meeting of community leaders, calling for a reversal of the decision to move out a well-settled community.
Many of the children attend St Oliver’s National School nearby, and Mr Kelleher had called for a reversal of the decision by Ipas, the international accommodation agency. He has also called for health and other supports for Killarney, which is now hosting large numbers of asylum seekers and Ukrainians.
There are now about 2,000 Ukrainians in Killarney, along with hundreds more in direct provision.
Ipas is moving people “like pawns on a chessboard”, he added.
Colm O’Súilleabháin, principal of St Oliver’s National School in Ballycasheen, said he and other school principals were “demoralised” after putting so much work and effort into integrating the Ukrainian community at Hotel Killarney.
“At this point, to move them is wholly unjust,” Mr O’Súilleabháin said.
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