Emergency Housing Closure Leaves Hundreds of Ukrainian Refugees in ireland Facing Relocation
Hundreds of Ukrainian men, women, and children are facing displacement after the Irish Department of Integration abruptly shut down a former restaurant serving as emergency housing. The facility, formerly Toughers Restaurant, located approximately 9 kilometers from Carlow town, housed nearly 150 refugees and is slated to close by January 1st, 2024.
The building, converted into emergency housing in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has been deemed unsafe due to fire safety concerns. A Department spokesperson confirmed, “We have terminated the contract for Tougher’s Accommodation Center due to fire safety concerns following site inspections by an independent inspections company.”
The abrupt closure has left families with just 19 days’ notice,a fact that has drawn criticism. Families and local schools were notified on Thursday, December 12th, leaving little time to secure option housing. “At the time of inspection, the quality of the accommodation being provided was found not to be of the necessary standard required by the Department,” the spokesperson explained. “We made the decision to remove the people living there in the interests of their safety. while it is indeed unfortunate that they will have to be moved with very little notice, this is unavoidable given the concerns raised.”
While the department aims to relocate families locally “where possible,” the spokesperson acknowledged the challenges: “Given the meaningful number of people at this location and the shortage of accommodation the Department has under contract in this area,it is expected that properties in other parts of the country will have to be used. We regret the disruption that this will cause to the people involved, but the Department has a duty of care to the people who were accommodated at this (centre).”
This is not the first time fire safety issues have been raised at the facility. The Department addressed similar concerns in late 2022. However, the recent inspection apparently revealed conditions that necessitated immediate action.
The situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Ireland in providing adequate housing for Ukrainian refugees, mirroring similar struggles in other European nations grappling with the influx of displaced persons. The short notice given to families underscores the urgency of the situation and raises questions about the preparedness of the system to handle such emergencies.
The situation underscores the complexities of managing large-scale refugee resettlement and the need for proactive measures to ensure safe and stable housing solutions. The impact on the affected families, particularly children, is a significant concern as they navigate the uncertainty of relocation during the holiday season.
