Ukrainian refugees who were told they were being moved from their accommodation in Killarney, Co Kerry, to Westport in Co Mayo, will now remain in the Kerry town following sustained local and political opposition to the move.
The 135 women and children will now move to alternative accommodation in the town instead.
The decision was confirmed to Kerry TDs by Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman’s office this morning and has been welcomed by Deputy Government Chief Whip Brendan Griffin.
However, he said the decision should have been made earlier to avoid the trauma and worry caused to those involved.
The Mayor of Killarney and a number of local support groups had called on Minister O’Gorman to reverse the decision on the basis of the efforts that had been made to integrate the Ukrainian people into the community in Killarney.
A Ukrainian woman who has been housed in the Killarney hotel said they were given 48 hours notice that they would be moved to Co Mayo.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Dina Kukushina said the Ukrainians were “very shocked because first of all we realised that we have to move on Wednesday, so it’s only one full day for everything.”
She said many of the Ukrainian people living in the hotel have got jobs in the area and younger people had started educational programmes.
Ms Kukushina moved to Killarney from Ukraine with her sister and two nieces and works in a local pharmacy.
Mayor of Killarney Niall Kelleher said there is accommodation available in Killarney where Ukrainian refugees could be housed and that a list of this accommodation has been given to authorities.
Speaking on the same programme, the Fianna Fáil Councillor said there are holiday homes and other houses in a complex available, as well as B&B accommodation.
Mr Kelleher said it is exceptionally worrying that people are being displaced without consideration for them.
These are people who have settled into the community, are registered with GPs, who are working and who are in school, he said.
Following reports that the group will now not have to leave, one woman said “it looks like a big show”.
Alina Maslach, who was a professional choreographer and dancer in Kyiv and has been in Killarney living with her sister, said “we are people, and we are really old people.”
Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne, she said people have become established in Killarney and have friends there now.
She said she finished packing her bags at 3.30am this morning after finding out on Monday that she would have to leave by 11am today.
Ms Maslach said she is not angry but is upset as everyone had a life and plans in Ukraine and now after coming to Ireland, as a professional dancer, she has no opportunities in Killarney and has made plans to change her career.
But with one letter, she was told all this must change and she was to leave, she said.
Additional reporting Paschal Sheehy
Decision to move Ukrainians from Killarney reversed
Source: Viral Trends Report
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