Centre in Kilkenny 'will be entirely made up of people who are Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection', says Department

The Department of Integration have confirmed that from January 2025 onwards, "Josephine's Road House, Main Street, Urlingford, County Kilkenny, will be used as a temporary accommodation centre for people fleeing the war in Ukraine."

This confirmation comes following recent correspondence relayed to the Department from Kilkenny Live, highlighting recent activity around the site.

A Department spokesperson stated that the centre 'will be entirely made up of people who are Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs)'.

"The profile of arrivals from the war in Ukraine to date is mainly women and children," the spokesperson added.

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"The people allocated accommodation in this location will be moving from alternative State-provided accommodation in the general area, where possible.

"All accommodation provided by the Department is temporary, and people fleeing the war are informed of this when they request accommodation from the State."

There had been concern amongst some who demonstrated in the area last year that the site would be used as an IPAS centre for International Protection Applicants.

The Department of Integration have also confirmed that 424 contracts to provide accommodation to Ukrainians fleeing the war came to an end last year across Ireland.

These contracts provided accommodation for approximately 15,000 people - and led to many Ukrainians being moved across county lines.

In Kilkenny City, for example, many of the residents at Kilkenny Manor, situated on the grounds of the former St Joseph’s industrial school, were forced to move at short notice in September.

Children attending local schools, parents who had secured jobs in the community and elderly residents who had finally found a place to call home since fleeing the conflict that engulfed their country once again had their lives thrown into limbo.

Kilkenny TD John McGuinness described the process of relocating Ukrainian refugees at the time as ‘inhumane’.

“They are being shipped around the country like animals,” he told Kilkenny Live.

This also follows a series of changes introduced by the government regarding support for Ukrainian refugees.

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