Frascati House in Blackrock, Dublin, could be used to accommodate refugees from Ukraine or international protection applicants, according to the Department of Equality. The 27,900 sq ft property is in the country’s most expensive postcode. The Integration Minister has confirmed initial talks have taken place with those offering the use of the building, although the estate agent for the property said their client had not offered the building to the department. The move comes amid an “unprecedented number of arrivals” in Ireland over the past year.

Frascati House, a five-storey office building located in the expensive postcode of Blackrock in Dublin, has been offered to the Irish Department of Equality as potential accommodation for refugees from Ukraine or international protection (IP) applicants. A spokesperson for Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman confirmed that discussions had been held with those offering the building, although the estate agent for the property claimed that they had not offered the property to the department. Frascati House is a “predominantly” open-plan office accommodation with a canteen and meeting rooms. The use of the building has been referenced in a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Ukraine, but no offer has been made in Kilkenny yet. The department is examining how to align state supports with other EU member states as Ireland is considered an outlier in terms of the proportion of Ukrainians in state-provided and serviced accommodation. The Irish Government has been working to address the accommodation shortfall, including the use of the old military installation at Columb Barracks in Mullingar for rapid-build pod-style accommodation, where 50 units with 200 beds are expected to come on-stream by summer and will be used for families.