Ukrainian families have 'nowhere to go' after being told to leave Trabolgan accommodation
Katerina, Alisa, and Anna Vinnytska, A Ukrainian family who have been given notice that they will have to leave their accommodation in Trabolgan, Co Cork, in the near future. Picture: David Keane
More than 500 Ukrainian residents at the former Trabolgan holiday village in East Cork say they have “nowhere to go” after being told they must soon leave the accommodation they have been calling home since 2022.
Residents recently received an email from Trabolgan management saying a phased wind-down of State-contracted accommodation will begin in the coming weeks.
“Advance notice will be given to all those affected by the changes,” it said.
In a follow-up email, they said the first message was an update on the Government’s plans for Ukrainian residents and “was not an eviction notice”.
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Management said a minimum of three months' notice will be given before residents have to leave.
Ireland began taking in Ukrainian refugees after Russia’s invasion in February 2022, with tens of thousands arriving under the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive, which allows those fleeing the war to live, work, and access services here
Resident Andrii Gula said the most difficult and stressful thing about the situation was the lack of any specific deadlines.
“We’ll be given three months' notice to vacate our homes. However, no one can say exactly when this three-month period will begin. As a result, people are left in a state of constant uncertainty.”
Many residents said their efforts to find private rental accommodation have proved unsuccessful.
The Sydorenko family said they have been trying to rent a home for the past two years without success, despite both parents being in full-time employment.
Tetiana Kulish, a mother of two teenagers, said: “Every day I search for rental accommodation, but we face obstacle after obstacle. Many properties are beyond our budget, some landlords require references that we cannot provide, and there are very few homes available.”
Kravtsova Inna, a single mother, said: “It is a big problem to find housing, because all landlords understand that it will be difficult for us to pay rent, which on average will be about 70% of income.”
Anna Filippova said her family is facing “the terrifying reality of emergency homelessness” after first living in Shanakiel, then being moved by the State to the Cork Student Village, then to Trabolgan.
“Every single move tears our children away from their familiar surroundings, causing immense stress to our family,” she said.
She said her 16-year-old daughter has cystic fibrosis and type-1 diabetes and depends on daily sterile nebuliser treatments and quarterly medical care at Cork University Hospital.
Ms Filippova is concerned that a move to damp or mouldy accommodation would negatively impact her health.
“We want to be very clear. We do not want to be a burden to the Irish State. We are a hard-working family, and we want to provide for ourselves independently."
Many residents said that they would be willing to pay to stay in Trabolgan.
Maryna Rastvortseva said she has not been able to find any housing for their family of seven people, including her daughter, disabled son, parents, and mother-in-law who are “sick and elderly, requiring constant care and frequent visits to specialised doctors”.
Anastasiia Konovalova, a single mother, says that her son, who has autism, is well integrated into his school environment and has friends in the area. She said moving would have a serious negative impact on him.
Other people spoke about the situations in their Ukrainian hometowns, including 66-year-old Iryna Morozova from Sumy who said it was “under continuous attack”.
“I haven’t been there for four years and can’t imagine how it is possible to go back there. It’s very frightening and dangerous.”
Galina Kachan, 78, from Kharkiv, said: “I have nowhere to go.”
Liam Quaide, a Social Democrats TD for East Cork, said: “Whatever term is used, the reality is that this group of Ukrainian residents are being told the accommodation they depend on will soon no longer be available, without further information.
"This is an awful limbo to be left in.
“Nobody is suggesting an arrangement such as Trabolgan can continue indefinitely. But this is exactly why proper planning is needed, with particular consideration of vulnerable groups — older adults, disabled people, children settled in local schools.
“There needs to be clear communication and timelines, and proper engagement with schools, local services, and the wider community.”
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