Nenagh area now home to 174 Ukrainian refugees
Tipp property owners pledge 355 accommodations
Nenagh Local Electoral Area is now home to 174 Ukrainian refugees, an increase of 30 on the number present here last May.
New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that Tipperary has now become a temporary home to almost 900 people fleeing the war in Ukraine. That is an increase of almost 70% on the number recorded in the county in May.
The Clonmel Local Electoral Area has the highest population of Ukrainian refugees at 179, followed by Nenagh (174), Cashel–Tipperary (161), Carrick on Suir (112), Roscrea–Templemore (100), Thurles (92), Cahir (63) and the Newport LEA (17).
Tipperary Co Council’s Housing, Civil Defence and Community & Enterprise sections have been tasked with assisting the humanitarian crisis. The two temporary emergency centres set up at Littleton and Clonmel are continuing to operate and have to date taken in more than 400 clients.
Due to the scarcity of more suitable, permanent-type accommodation in the last two months, residents have stayed for up to six weeks at these centres. Managed in conjunction with Thurles Lions Trust and Clonmel Town Football Club, the service has been successful in meeting the emergency needs of those fleeing the conflict in the Ukraine.
PLEDGED PROPERTIES
According to the council’s October management report, 355 properties were made available by property owners in Tipperary under the pledging process. To date, 279 of these properties have been assessed. The remaining 76 were non-contactable.
Of the assessed properties, more than half (53% or 148 properties) have since been withdrawn or deemed unsuitable. There are a further 32 properties located in rural areas where own-transport is required and, as such, have not yet been utilised.
All vacant pledged properties have been inspected and the council’s Housing section is working to match families with the appropriate properties.
To date, of the 99 properties that are available to utilise, 50 properties have been tenanted, providing medium-term accommodation for 140 clients. The remaining 49 properties will be utilised over the coming weeks.
The council works closely with the local Development Companies in assisting the families housed to integrate with local communities and to access the necessary health, educational and other supports. Semi-permanent accommodation facilities will be utilised for the next four – 36 months and will be own-room facilities (possibly with shared kitchen and living facilities). Modular-type accommodation is also being considered and Thurles has been identified as one of eight sites across the country for the initial provision of modular-type homes on public-owned land. The OPW intends to provide such homes on the office’s own site at Gortataggart, Thurles. Survey work on the identified site is due to commence shortly. The council has committed to engaging with the local community once initial survey work is complete.