Clare County Council’s CEO is warning that the challenge of accommodating an increasing number of Ukrainian refugees here is reaching ‘a difficult phase’.
It comes as senior Government ministers have been discussing proposals to house people fleeing the war-torn state in temporary accommodation today.
Almost 25,000 Ukrainians have now arrived in Ireland – 85 percent of them women and children.
More than 2,000 Ukrainian refugees are now estimated to be living in Clare, with around half of those being accommodated in the North of the county.
It’s believed the Cabinet has been discussing ways to house people fleeing the war-torn state in mass accommodation centres, with space now running out in hotels nationwide.
Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney told the UN Security Council last night Ireland will do all it can to help those in need.
Both the Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, and the Minister for Integration, Roderic O’ Gorman, have visited Clare in recent weeks to assess this county’s efforts to accommodate as many refugees as possible.
Clare Councillors were told earlier this month that the local authority is facing ‘significant challenges’ in the months ahead in meeting housing demands for those fleeing the war.
The CEO of Clare County Council says they’re to begin assisting the International Protection Accommodation Services in providing emergency beds.
Pat Dowling says the challenge in providing adequate services in Clare for Ukrainian refugees is becoming ‘more acute’.
Meanwhile, a man who lived in Ennis for more than a decade who’s now working at the Polish border to assist Ukrainian people is thanking communities in Clare for their efforts.
Marcin Piotrowski is involved in the Folkowisko Foundation which is feeding more than 200,000 people in Ukraine.
He says Ireland needs to be prepared to accept further numbers of people should the need arise.
It’s understood the Ukrainian Prime Minister is to land at Shannon Airport today as part of a stopover.
Denys Shmyhal is to meet Taoiseach Micheal Martin between 2 and 3pm.
