34 people to move into Tower Road property

OVER 30 people are to be moved into a property on Tower Road in Clondalkin this week.

According to the Department of Children, 34 people will be “entirely made up of beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTPs) from Ukraine”.

A Dept spokesperson told The Echo: “The rooms will be available for allocation to BOTPs beginning this week. The capacity in the accommodation referred to is 34 people over 14 rooms.”

The property at 50 Tower Road is located beside the entrance to Moyle Park College.

It is operated by Clondalkin Accommodation Services, a company set up on March 30 this year, which lists it’s Director and Secretary as Maria Kelly and Graham Kelly, from Blanchardstown respectively.

Clondalkin Cllr Trevor Gilligan (FF) said the breakdown of occupants will be predominately family groups from Ukraine “as far as I am aware”.

“The allocation of residents will be decided based on who is in need of accommodation when the centre is ready and open. There is no all-male BOTP accommodation in the entire country and every week the adult arrivals are majority women (many with children).

“That being said, there will be adult men as family groups are travelling with grandfathers, fathers and young adult sons. More funding and services must be provided to the local community here in Clondalkin.

“In terms of education for example, lots of local children are missing out on spaces this year, parents are distraught, they have had siblings, aunts, uncles, in local schools and they are not getting spaces, more funding and resources must be made available as a matter of urgency,” said Cllr Gilligan.

A Dept spokesperson told The Echo there is a need to “ensure quality in all accommodation contracted, while also providing shelter and safety urgently to those who need it”.

“In considering offers, the Dept takes into account a range of factors such as accommodation suitability, rates, capacity and amenities. Every effort is being made to activate suitable accommodation offers.”

The Dept added that Ireland is now accommodating “over 67,000 people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine” and the State is considering “all offers of accommodation made” to address the “urgent accommodation need”.

“As a result of current constraints on temporary accommodation, it is necessary for the Department to transfer BOTPs to suitable accommodation as and where it becomes available.

“The Department is considering accommodation offers in County Dublin in the same way as other counties, taking into account existing numbers and available service provision.”

For full access to all content on Echo.ie and to support the continuation of local news and local journalism in your community subscribe HERE. Thanks for your ongoing support.