A Clare senator is accusing the Integration Minister of having no grasp of how Ukrainian accommodation affects communities in this county.
The Government is being called on to take a county-by-approach to accommodating Ukrainian refugees amid much disquiet around the relocation of several groups of Ukrainians in Clare.
Having lived in the West Clare village for two years, 15 Ukrainian adults and six children are today being moved from Kilbaha, after their accommodation provider’s contract with the Department of Integration was terminated.
It’s understood those residing in the village were given two weeks notice of their relocation, with the majority going to Kilkee, while the remainder will take up residence in the East Clare Golf Village in Bodyke.
It comes one month after 75 Ukrainian refugees, who were living in Shannon’s Phoenix House, were given similar notice regarding the Government’s decision to relocate them to Lisdoonvarna.
Down the road in the Oakwood Hotel in Shannon, meanwhile, Ukrainians living there have this week been informed they will no longer be accommodated there from July 26th.
Shannon Sinn Féin Councillor and General Election candidate, Donna McGettigan says those due to be moved are “upset and angry” because they’re being left in the dark about their futures.
Residents of both Shannon and Kilbaha have expressed much criticism of the manner in which the situations in both areas have been handled and have pointed to the fact that many of the Ukrainians had acquired jobs, enrolled children in schools and otherwise integrated into the areas.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister for Integration Roderic O’Gorman in the Seanad, Minister of State Jennifer Carroll MacNeill says factors such as jobs and education can’t always be taken into account.
As of last month, over 12% of the population of North Clare is now Ukrainian.
Responding to Minister Carroll MacNeill in the Seanad, Senator Conway claims Minister O’Gorman is refusing to engage with local representatives on the effect this is having on local industry.
In the Dáil meanwhile, Scariff Independent TD Michael McNamara has described Ireland’s asylum system as “utterly dysfunctional” and says the Department of Integration’s approach to accommodating refugees doesn’t allow for meaningful integration.
In response to Deputy McNamara, Taoiseach Simon Harris suggests there’s a contradiction between the public seemingly wanting fewer hotels to be used for asylum seeker accommodation and complaining when the Government terminates contracts.
