More than 40 Ukrainian refugees at a Co Galway accommodation centre are facing an uncertain future after receiving news that their home at the Sisters of Mercy Convent in Loughrea is to close.
Residents were yesterday given 24 hours notice that they would be moving to new accommodation in other parts of country.
The Department of Integration has now confirmed that the shock relocation will not go ahead later today and that efforts will be made to locate the residents in suitable properties in the area on a short-term basis.
In April 2022 over 50 Ukrainian nationals gradually moved into the convent when it was repurposed as an accommodation centre.
There are currently 41 residents, including a number of children, living at the convent which is now managed by Allpro Services.
At 11am yesterday, the residents were told that they would be relocating the following day.
A letter from the management company stated that the convent was closing due to substantial fire regulation issues.
Residents were given details of their new accommodation at various locations across the country, including areas such as Dundrum in Co Tipperary and another facility in Co Cork.
The news came as a shock to the residents, some of whom spoke out last night.
Albina has been living in the Convent of Mercy since April 2022, but yesterday was offered alternative accommodation in Cork.
"Of course we were shocked because we thought that this place is like our home," she said.
"Many people here, they have a job or they have children in the school. Some people study at the universities in Galway and suddenly they have to be moved to temporary and it's too far from Galway.
They cannot commute to Galway to study and it's not the time where they can find any accommodation, because it's very difficult to find any accommodation in Ireland," said Albina.
Another resident Alex, whose eight-year-old son has just finished second class in a local school in Loughrea, also expressed his sadness at news of the planned transfer.
"My child had a very difficult time getting used to school. He finds moving very difficult. We have become very used to Loughrea.
"It is a very nice town. My wife was offered a job here helping elderly people. I don't know what more I can say."
News of the events spread quickly yesterday in Loughrea. On receiving the news, some of the Ukrainian residents who did not own suitcases began to go into the town centre to purchase cases to prepare for their sudden departure.
A number of the Ukrainian children attend school locally in Loughrea and many of the residents at the Convent of Mercy are employed in the town.
Four of the Ukrainian residents form part of the workforce at one small, local business.
Locals in Loughrea were also upset at the amount of notice given about the closure.
Local Fianna Fáil councillor Shane Curley said that he believed the issues with the building should have been resolved before now.
"There was a list of issues that had to be ironed out. I'm not 100% sure whose responsibility it is to bring the building up to standards, but first of all the building should be safe and they should be at least acting on the major dangers in the building to make sure the people are safe living here," he said.
Mr Curley also expressed his frustration with the relocation plans that were made for the Ukrainian community who are resident at the convent.
"They were going to be sent, in some cases, over 100km away. You've got small kids that are integrated into schools and these kids have been basically just uprooted now and they're going to be sent to a completely different part of the country," he said. "Whatever has to happen, people need to come together and make sure that this is stopped before it causes serious damage to people," he said.
Allpro Services, the management company at the Convent of Mercy declined to comment on the developments.
In a statement yesterday evening from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, a spokesperson for Minister for Integration Roderic O'Gorman outlined that there had been ongoing engagement with Galway County Council in relation to potential fire safety issues at the property in Loughrea.
It also confirmed that it was now apparent that the level of works necessary there were such that it was not possible to continue occupying the property.
The department said it was making every effort to locate the residents in suitable properties in the area. However, this will be short term in nature.
The department also confirmed that it is in communication with the residents and will keep them fully informed of all developments.
The spokesperson said that no residents of the convent will now be moved to other locations today.
A spokesperson for Galway East Fianna Fáil TD and Minister of State in the same department Anne Rabbitte confirmed that a final decision is expected on 5 July.
A number of locals are currently trying to broker a solution to the planned relocation.
Concerns now remain about what will happen next Wednesday.
