Ukrainian refugee families in south Dublin to be ‘uprooted’ and moved to hotels, claim supporters
Blackrock Supporters Group issued a media alert tonight stating the refugees will be moved to West Dublin hotels.
The Irish Independent has asked the Department of Children if this report is accurate and for details.
A spokesperson for the group said: “Supporters of the Blackrock Ukrainians were shocked that the Blackrock centre had been prioritised for closure.
“They are vulnerable families and are in schools and jobs locally. To be moved now after two years to a remote, out of town hotel setting makes no sense.
“The Ombudsman for Children has been clear that long term accommodation in hotels is damaging and inappropriate for children.
“Hotels are also much more expensive than this self-catering model. Nothing about this closure makes sense.”
The group has claimed the Department of Children and Integration will terminate its contract for Ukrainian refugee accommodation in Blackrock.
They added that a “decision to close the state accommodation and relocate the vulnerable tenants has been unsuccessfully appealed by the impacted Ukrainian refugees, as well as the local community and representatives”.
The group of 30 Ukrainians had been resident at the Blackrock property since December 2022, the group stated.
They claimed the residents are “set to be moved to three different hotels and are advised that the new accommodation is temporary, and they can expect to be moved again”.
The group added that it had been “highlighted in a written appeal that their lives will be put into complete turmoil if they are forced to relocate now after two years of settled life in Blackrock”.
The Blackrock property has been “converted from commercial office use to emergency use, with up to 42 bedspaces and communal self-catering facilities,” the group stated,
“The Ukrainians appealed as a group to the Department of Children and Integration to review the decision as their children are settled in schools and into the community,” it added.
“The group learned of the closure on September 2 as schools reopened and have been supported by parents in local schools, as well as neighbours, to appeal to the Department to review the decision or delay the closure to allow them to find appropriate accommodation in the area,” the group said.
Supporters and Ukrainians have joined together to now create the Blackrock Community Alliance to “help and representations have been made to the Minister for Children, Roderic O’Gorman and to local TDs and councillors,” the notification explained.
A petition had been signed by 1,200 in the area and employers and schools had written letters of support.
