Tralee's John Mitchels GAA Sports Complex to accommodate Ukrainian refugees

Three hotels and a hostel in Kerry are already housing refugees after they entered agreements with IPPS — the agency handling accommodation for refugees

The sports hall at John Mitchels GAA grounds in  Tralee will be used for for overnight accommodation for Ukraunian refugees “in the event of no hotel beds being available”. Picture: Domnick Walsh / Eye Focus LTD

The John Mitchels GAA Sports Complex in Tralee has been placed on standby as a centre for short-term accommodation for Ukrainian refugees, it has been confirmed.

A spokesman for Kerry County Council said agreement has been reached with council management which is co-ordinating transport and other services for refugees to use the sports hall for overnight accommodation “in the event of no hotel beds being available”.

Three hotels and a hostel in Kerry are already housing refugees after they entered agreements with IPPS, The International Protection Procurement Services arm of the Department of Children, the agency handling accommodation for refugees.

The contracts are for three meals per day and laundry, for six months initially, with options to extend this.

The Department of Children has refused to say how much the accommodation providers are being paid per person.

“Contractual matters cannot be divulged due to the commercially sensitive nature of this information,” a spokesman said.

It is understood the rates are being agreed on an individual basis depending on the type of accommodation.

50,000 tourist beds in Kerry

Kerry, which has one of the largest banks of accommodation outside Dublin, with 50,000 tourist beds, is being looked at as a potential location for hosting a large number of refugees fleeing war-torn Ukraine. 

Killarney and the wider area alone has an estimated 20,000 rooms.

However, most hotels and guesthouses have already accepted tourist bookings amid what is predicted to be a bumper year for tourism in Killarney and south Kerry.

Refugees have already begun arriving at the Skellig Accommodation Centre in Caherciveen.

The former Skellig Star hotel, which closed as a direct provision centre in 2020, also now has 30 apartments and potentially could host up to 200 refugees, locals estimate.

Refugees have also arrived at the 14-bed Earl of Desmond Hotel outside Tralee and both the 72-bed Inisfallen Hotel in Fossa, Killarney, and its sister hostel, the 3 Lakes Hostel in Killarney town, are expected to host refugees from Monday.

Appeal for accommodation

The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) has written to its members in Kerry appealing on the Government’s behalf for any type of accommodation including guesthouses, hotels and B&Bs, on a commercial basis.

It has told members that at present there are around 200-250 people seeking accommodation per day.

“In an effort to secure further accommodation for Ukrainian nationals coming to Ireland; the Government is seeking to secure as many hotel rooms as possible for three to six month blocks and, where possible; is seeking exclusive use of hotels,” the IHF said.

This is alongside the appeal to offer one or more rooms for free to refugees.

The department would welcome offers with a minimum of 10 rooms for a six-month period, it said, with meals and laundry.

“However the department would also be open to offering a month’s contract,"  IHF chief executive Tim Finn said in the appeal to members last week.