Ukrainian families ‘devastated’ over relocation from Ashbourne hotel

Up to 30 Ukrainian families who have been living in an Ashbourne hotel for the last two years are said to be “devastated ” at being informed they will be relocated with just four week’s notice.

Residents staying at the Ashbourne Court Hotel received a letter for the Department of Integration last last month stating that they would moved on to alternative accommodation before August 25th.

The letter states residents will be provided with approximately 48 hours notice in advance of their transfer to new accommodation. It goes on to say that due to the extreme shortage of accommodation available, anyone that declines an offer will not receive any further ones.

“In recent months, there has been a decrease in the number of people fleeing the war in Ukraine seeking accommodation in Ireland. As a result of this decrease the Department has begun consolidating its accommodation portfolio,” states the document.

Fine Gael Cllr Alan Tobin has slammed the move.

"They were given notice last week that they were to pack their bags more or less and be gone by the end of the month,” he said.

"Where to, they don't know. It's predominantly families in the hotel and many of them work in the locality and their children all go to school,” he added.

"They have been here for the better part of two years, you have kids in the local schools, you have one girl starting college so they are very much part of society and are devastated at having to move."

The current shortage of home and sky rocketing rents will make it virtually impossible for the families to be able to remain in Ashbourne according to Tobin who said;

"It is crazy how short an amount of time they have been given as this in an Ashbourne that you can not rent in for love nor money.

"I know some families who moved through choice ended up going to Donegal because that was place where they could get a job for a decent wage and rent that wasn’t through the roof.

"A lot of the towns and villages these people are from are occupied so they don’t even have the option of going back.

"No one actually came into the hotel and said ok we need to move people on, what’s your situation, are you able to move right now.

"Somebody with an excel sheet has said, you out, these people in, good luck.

"Simon Harris said our home is your home, what does that mean now when you are turfing people out on to the streets?

Under a revised plan in March, Ukrainian refugees now go to designated accommodation centres for up to 90 days and are provided with food, laundry and integration support during this time.

They are paid a €38.80 subsistence allowance per week and an additional €29.80 per child.

Arrivals had previously been entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance of €220 per week and unlimited time in State accommodation.

Earlier this may the Taoiseach confirmed that Dozens of accommodation centres for Ukrainian refugees would be set to close

Speaking in May, Harris said that Almost 70 contracts for Ukrainian refugee accommodation would expire “shortly”

Mr Harris said that many hotel and community facilities which were being used as refugee accommodation will made available again for local use.

He added that the state needed to move “beyond this emergency response” to migration.

The Department of Integration has been contacted for comment.