Relocation of elderly and disabled Ukrainians from student apartment complex in Cork postponed

All 425 Ukrainian residents of the Cork Student Village complex were told by the Department of Integration that they needed to leave by March 13

Some of the 425 Ukrainian residents of the Cork Student Village complex who are unsure if they will be relocated. Picture: David Creedon

The Department of Integration has postponed the relocation of elderly and disabled Ukrainians from a large student apartment complex in Cork City, but the fate of hundreds of others living there remains uncertain.

All 425 Ukrainian residents of the Cork Student Village complex were told by the department recently that they need to leave by March 13, with officials citing obligations under Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) regulations which means that student accommodation must be returned to students by next month.

Polina Serhieieva and her daughter Uliana are among those affected. Picture: David Creedon

The move would affect 200 families, including adults with complex medical conditions, around 70 children of school-going age, including one due to sit the Leaving Certificate this summer, and another 40 people in their late teens and early 20s.

Irena Malets and her son Illia are residents at the complex. Picture: David Creedon

The elderly and disabled were due to be relocated on Thursday, with the remaining adults and children expecting to hear from the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) next week about where they were being sent.

It was happening despite the accommodation owners telling the department that even if the residents were relocated, the complex would remain vacant until September, with work due to start in July to prepare it for the next academic year.

“ Cork Student Village remains committed to supporting and providing accommodation to Ukrainian families to allow children complete the current academic year without further disruption to their learning,” the owners said in a statement.

Distraught residents spoke out on Monday worried about the disruption to their schooling, access to work, and to health services.

There was a breakthrough on Tuesday afternoon when the department confirmed that the relocation due to take place on Thursday has been postponed “until further notice”.

However, it was not clear on Tuesday night if the postponement also covers those who were due to be relocated next week.

The department has been asked for clarification and a response is awaited.

Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development, and local Fine Gael TD, Jerry Buttimer, said he has been liaising with various department officials on the issue and hopes a resolution can be found.

“As a local, and TD for the constituency, I hope every effort can be made to keep the residents in place until the end of the academic year. 

"My team are liaising with officials in the last few days and will continue to,” he said.

Olena Romanova and Polina Serhieieva.  Picture: David Creedon

This is the second time in a week that the department has been criticised for its approach to relocating Ukrainians from student accommodation.

Residents at the Hubble student apartments in Dublin 1, home to 44 school-going children and 77 people working locally, were given six days' notice last week of their relocation to an equestrian centre in Kill in Co Kildare.

Labour TD Marie Sherlock said the department’s RPZ explanation does not stack up because RPZ protections have already lapsed because the student apartments have not been rented out to students for more than two years.