More refugee accommodation offered in Portlaoise

More non-national people seeking the safety of Ireland could be coming to stay in Laois.

Portlaoise Municipal District councillors have announced that more refugee accommodation has been offered to the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS).

They have however received no detail on the location, how many it can accommodate or when the extra refugees might arrive.

The councillors met on Monday morning, October 9, after they were informed of the news by IPAS.

They issued a statement through Laois County Council later that day.

‘Councillors in the Portlaoise Municipal District have been informed that IPAS have been offered additional refugee accommodation in Portlaoise.

"We ask that IPAS keep the Councillors of Portlaoise Municipal District informed of developments,” they said.

Laois now hosts 1,119 Ukrainian refugees, two thirds of them in private homes.

Up to 750 more are in tents in Stradbally, for a contract that ends on October 13. Another 102 refugees from war in Syria are to be welcomed and housed in Laois, starting in 2024.

Laois County Council says that it continues to assist the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth DCEDIY with the temporary accommodation of Ukrainian arrivals to the county, as well as providing liaison locally in relation to vacant buildings and sites suitable for medium to long term accommodation solutions. 

The Council also continues to allocate privately pledged/offered accommodation to Ukrainian families, with 50 households having been provided with accommodation through these mechanisms to date. 

Site works are also continuing at the 42 Modular Homes project in Rathdowney. The department have indicated that the handover of the site to them from OPW is anticipated by the end October.