Ukranian families will be moved into tents at the Gormanston military camp from Monday, Taoiseach Micheal Martin has revealed.
There will initially be as many as 250 refugees moved into the Meath army base, with its maximum capacity of 320 expected to be reached soon after that.
The move was confirmed as an emergency meeting of the Cabinet subcommittee on the Ukrainian refugee crisis was convened last night.
Read more: Ukrainian refugees sleeping at Dublin Airport as asylum system hits capacity
Ministers met to discuss what to do next after the existing system put in place to welcome refugees burst at the seams on Wednesday night. The country ran out of accommodation for those arriving into Ireland fleeing the war in Ukraine and up to 250 refugees had to spend the night sleeping in Dublin Airport.
Newly arriving refugees are staying in the old central terminal building at the airport. Some of these weary and tired travellers had to sleep on bare floors after making the arduous trek west from their wartorn home country of Ukraine.
Ireland has already given sanctuary to over 41,000 Ukrainians since the war started in February. All State accommodation for Ukrainian refugees and others seeking refuge from other countries under the government’s International Protection (IP) programme is now full.
The Citywest Hotel in Dublin signed a two year deal with the government in June to provide accommodation for up to 2,000 Ukrainian refugees in its 764 rooms. However, the Taoiseach revealed the refugee centre is now full and that 70% of the residents in Citywest are from the IP programme.
Mr Martin said one of the reasons for this is that a far larger number of IP applicants have come here than was expected this year. He estimated “up to four or five times more,” adding that a normal year would only see 3,500 people seeking refuge here through the IP process.
This number could be as many as 15,000 this year as conflicts all over the world produce more refugees looking for help outside their borders. And according to the Taoiseach, part of the overflow here may have been caused by a UK government decision to send refugees away from their borders and on to Rwanda instead.
Mr Martin described this as “shocking” and “wrong” and said it may have contributed to extra numbers coming here. The special Cabinet subcommittee last night heard from different ministers that there are extra places being arranged for Ukrainian refugees.
Besides Gormanston, they include 300 places in college dorms, 500 beds in refurbished housing, while more spaces will be freed-up in other IP properties the government operates. Integration minister Roderic O’Gorman said after the meeting the overflow this week was due to a “surge.”
He said: “In a time when there are eight million people who are fleeing Ukraine, we’re going to see surges, we’ve seen the surge this week.” The Government last night confirmed 160 Ukrainian refugees were transferred out of Dublin Airport yesterday.
Read next:
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Government to consider renting Citywest Hotel to house Ukrainian refugees
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