FORMER Limerick Mayor Daniel Butler has welcomed the imminent arrival of Ukrainian families fleeing the war in their homeland to the communities of Clarina and Ballybrown.
Limerick City and County Council have confirmed that Tara House in Clarina is currently being readied to accommodate 96 beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine.
“Limerick City and County Council can confirm that there is a new accommodation centre being readied this week, contracted by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth,” a statement read.
Fine Gael councillor Daniel Butler this week welcomed the move.
“It is great to see the apartment complex left idle for many years being brought back into use. Many people would pass it on their way to Ballybunion in the summer, I am sure,” Cllr Butler told the Limerick Post.
“I know that currently a number of the units are rented out and now the remainder are to be filled by Ukrainian families fleeing war.”
“They couldn’t be in a better community either. I have no doubt that the people of Clarina and Ballybrown will welcome these families with open arms and support them to settle in. It is a warm, connected and proactive community, who like to play their part and those attributes will no doubt come to the fore over the coming weeks.”
The accommodation at Tara House will be operated by the owners and their team in accordance with Department requirements for multiple occupancy temporary accommodation on the first and second floors.
“The accommodation will offer 96 bed spaces to families fleeing the war,” Council Senior Executive Officer Sonja Reidy explained.
“The residents on the ground floor will be unaffected as they have own door access and the upper floors have a separate access. There will be on site staffing and security provided to support the accommodation.
“The Ukrainian Response Accommodation Team and the Limerick Community Forum members will be on hand to assist the operator and new residents,” she added.
The Ballybrown Community Council met last week with representatives from Limerick City and County Council and West Limerick Resources to discuss the proposed emergency occupancy for Ukrainians in Clarina.
The property, along the N69 in the village, will only house Ukrainian families, those at the meeting were informed.
“There will be a maximum of 96 occupants, which may never be reached as only members of families can be placed in rooms together,” a spokesperson for Ballybrown Community Council revealed.
“We have been told by locals who have contacted us, based on this information, that the people in the community will help as needed with humanitarian assistance when needs are identified.”
