Páirc Uí Chaoimh throws open its doors to 80 refugees 

A specialist management company has been appointed to oversee the provision of and management of the accommodation. Picture Larry Cummins

Cork’s Páirc Uí Chaoimh GAA stadium has thrown open its doors to refugees for the next four weeks.

A group of about 80 people arrived at the stadium on Tuesday following a request from the Department of Integration for the use of the stadium as “short-term emergency accommodation” for “international protection” applicants.

Cork GAA has agreed to provide its facilities on a ‘pro bono’ rental basis until September 23.

The group will be accommodated in large function rooms at the Blackrock end of the southern stand in space previously used by the HSE as a Covid-19 vaccination clinic.

Games and functions at the venue will continue as normal.

A specialist management company has been appointed to oversee the provision of and management of the accommodation, while stadium staff will provide advice and support to this firm. The management company will also work with the stadium’s existing security, food and cleaning contractors.

Cork GAA declined to comment further on the arrangements, saying that it is a matter for the department.

But Cork GAA CEO, Kevin Donovan, said the association was delighted to be able to provide its facilities at a time of national need.

There is a clear need from government for facilities like this and we are delighted to be able to step-up and provide the facilities

There has been a surge in the number of people who have applied for international protection here since January. From June, some 6,494 people had applied for protection here since January 1, almost twice what had been predicted for the entire year. 

The figure does not include the estimated 44,000 people who have arrived here having fled the war in Ukraine.

The situation has put unprecedented pressure on the State’s refugee and asylum-seeker accommodation system.

Earlier this summer, about 100 Ukrainian refugees were temporarily housed at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, while others were housed temporarily in the Dublin Airport’s old terminal building.

Fiona Hurley, the CEO of the migrant and refugee advocacy group, NASC, said while they don’t underestimate the challenge facing the State, placing people in settings like this is “very inappropriate”.

“We do realise that there has been a spike in the numbers but it is incredibly disappointing that we are in this position - where we are still talking about a camp bed situation and tented accommodation for people, 18-months on from the White Paper on ending Direct Provision,” she said.

“It should have ended at this stage. There needs to be a long-term strategy, especially coming into the winter.” She called on the Government to update its plans, with revised timelines, for the ending of Direct Provision.