€67,000 allocated for Ukrainian refugees

€67,000 allocated for Ukrainian refugees

FUNDING to the tune of €67k has been provided to offer further augmented supports for Ukrainian refugees to help with their social integration in South Dublin County.

In recent months, there has been an influx in the number of refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine and those seeking international protection accommodated in the Clondalkin area.

Three refugee centres are currently in operation, at Dolcain House, the Red Cow and IBIS Hotel.

At the Clondalkin area committee meeting on Wednesday, Cllr Francis Timmons asked the council what additional services have been put in place to cater for the influx of refugees and asylum seekers.

In response, the council outlined how there is a Ukrainian Community Response Forum to highlight emergency response needs and seeks to find solutions within the capacity of the agencies which sit on it.

The forum has representatives from the council, HSE, TUSLA, Civil Defence, An Garda, DDLETB, South Dublin Volunteer Centre, Youth Services, South Dublin County Partnership and other agencies.

Healthy Ireland funding of €67,675 has been provided recently to offer further supports for Ukrainian refugees living in the South Dublin County Council catchment area.

Part of the funding is to aid in their social integration in Ireland over the coming months.

The local authority works with other key agencies to deliver direct supports to those living in accommodation across the county.

“Key evidence-based areas of need are identified by this group using interviews and surveys with residents in emergency accommodation and from this feedback solutions and responses are developed in response,” the council said.

It is also “exploring potential accommodation options for Ukrainian beneficiaries of temporary protection” and they are working on making a national call to vacant properties to be pledged for this usage.

Protests have been organised recently in Clondalkin with one group, the Clondalkin Community Association, picketing emergency accommodation in the area as “our services are stretched to the max”.

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