KILDARE: First group of Ukrainian refugees to arrive in Kill within a month
A total of 340 refugees from the war in Ukraine are to be accommodated in Kill and are due to move in before the end of May.
However residents say that they do not have a cast iron guarantee that no more will follow.
Community representatives have met with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O’Gorman and were briefed on plans to house the Ukrainians at the former equestrian centre on the town’s outskirts.
A representative of the Kill Residents Action Group, formed after the proposals emerged, said that the accommodation will be provided in a building within the centre and there will be no natural light.
It’s further claimed that construction work will take place within the centre after the initial tranche of refugees arrive.
It’s claimed that the influx will lead to an increase in the local population which will put pressure on medical and education services.
It's understood that if the local primary school cannot accommodate the children moving in then they will be educated elsewhere.
A briefing document released by the minister said that the “ceiling capacity is for 340 people over 165 pod style rooms” in Kill.
This is to be delivered in phases with some 114 bed spaces available for occupation a month from now (April 24) followed by another 114 bed spaces on May 8 and the third phase envisages 112 bed space on May 22.
All of those moving in will be from Ukraine and the first rooms will be available for allocation from April 24.
The term of the contract for the accommodation is 12 months from the start date date of phase 3, “so approximately 13 months in total.”
The comprehensive document provided by the department noted ”it is impossible to be certain as to how long individual Ukrainians will stay there.”
The accommodation will be managed by a company, Newtownsland (Kill) Ltd., which the department says “has experience in the commercial hospitality sector.” The operator of the facility expects to employ up to 50 people.