Over 280 Ukrainian nationals fleeing the ongoing conflict in their homeland will be accommodated at the former Sports and Equestrian Arena in Wallslough, Kilkenny.
In a communication sent to Kilkenny City Councillors, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth confirmed that a two-year contract had been signed with the owners of the Wallslough facility.
This agreement will allow the arena to serve as temporary housing for those seeking refuge from the war in Ukraine.
Under the terms of the agreement, refugees will be allowed to stay in the facility for a maximum of 90 days.
The initiative is part of Ireland’s ongoing efforts to support those displaced by the crisis in Ukraine.
Our Michael Bergin spoke to Councillor David Fitzgerald.
A statement from The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth reads:
“From late February 2025 onwards 286 beds will be provided for people fleeing the war in Ukraine in the Wallslough Village, 90-Day Designated Accommodation Centre, Wallslough, Co. Kilkenny, R95 T9FE.”
“The Wallslough Accommodation Centre will be utilised as a Designated Accommodation Centre (DAC), where new arrivals from Ukraine who seek accommodation from the State will be offered a maximum of 90 days in State-supported accommodation. As a result, it is expected that residents will only stay for several weeks as they adjust to living in Ireland and prepare to transition to their own independent accommodation.”
“The accommodation has undergone significant refurbishment works, overseen through the Emergency Refurbishment (Ukraine) Programme (ERUP). The ERUP programme is overseen by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, with the assistance of Local Authorities. The accommodation is in pods, generally with three bedrooms and a shared living space per pod. There are 122 own door bedrooms. There are a mix of bedroom sizes, with most rooms suitable for accommodating 2 or 3 persons. All pods and bedrooms are individually lockable.”
“The Department’s acceptance of this property as temporary accommodation for people fleeing the war in Ukraine was dependent on completion of the conversion and refurbishment works. This required that all the necessary statutory and regulatory requirements were met, in line with the Guidelines for Temporary Accommodation in Existing Buildings for those fleeing the war in Ukraine – Single Persons and Family Type Accommodation (May 2022), and all regulatory matters satisfactorily resolved.”
