Councillors slam 'cold hearted' decision to evict Ukrainians from housing before Christmas

At the most recent Carlow Council meeting that took place on the 12th of January 2025, councillors were up in arms after a decision was made to evict 150 Ukrainian men, women, and children from emergency accommodation in County Carlow.

Toughers, the former restaurant which was being used to accommodate the 150 Ukrainian men, women, and children was announced to be shut down due to fire safety concerns by the Department of Integration.

The date set for the closure was to be the 1st of January 2025, which was no more than two weeks before Christmas has cause outrage due to the timing.

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"An absolute disgrace" and "cold hearted" are some of the words used to describe the decision by Carlow Mayor Fintan Phelan.

Councillor Andrea Dalton says "we as the Council had no role in the decision" and she described who made the decision as not having "a human bone in their body". Cllr Dalton said the "inhumane decision" on the accommodation has to be "ended humanely."

Independent Ireland Councillor John Cassin added, "people here are criticising when its their own party doing it."

Cheif Executive of the Carlow County Council, Coilín O'Reilly says he has "massive sympathy" for the situation and he was "just as shocked as anyone."

But he also says they were "just buying time" and that it was "only a matter of time" before a solution had to be found for the people living there.

The discussion ended with the Chief Executive saying that he was "more than happy" to ask the department for an extension at Toughers.