Dublin Editor Work was under way on Thursday on the conversion of a warehouse owned by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council in Ballyogan, south Dublin, into a centre for Ukrainian refugees.
The large industrial building beside the Ballyogan recycling centre was built a number of years ago as a waste-baling facility but was never used and has been vacant since.
The Ballyogan Regional Temporary Rest Centre will have the capacity to cater for up to 300 displaced Ukrainian nationals from Monday week, once the necessary adaption works have been completed and beds, dining and washing facilities have been installed, along with recreational amenities.
The centre will provide shelter and services for Ukrainians on a short-term basis, of one to three nights, before they move on to longer-term accommodation. The facility will be the main humanitarian centre for the east region of Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare, and, in addition to shelter, will provide services such as healthcare and advice on education, training and other supports.
‘Wraparound services’
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Cathaoirleach Lettie McCarthy said the centre will ensure immediate practical support is provided to those fleeing the war in Ukraine.
“Some people will be arriving with just the clothes on their backs and many will have been travelling for a long time. This centre will provide them with the essentials – something to eat, somewhere to sleep, a shower, a change of clothes, the basics they will need. But it will also provide wraparound services,” she said.
“That will mean making sure we find the right long-term accommodation for people, taking care of people’s medical and dental or orthodontic needs and assessing what their more long-term needs will be.”
Many local people and groups were already offering assistance Cllr McCarthy said and the council and other agencies would be assessing the most appropriate way for people to help.
“There’s still a bit of co-ordination to go through to determine how people can help. In most cases, that will be in relation to the efforts that are already going on locally for people who will be staying in the community here more long term, because most people in the centre will be moving on to other places quite quickly.”
People who want to make offers of help can contact the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Volunteer Centre at info@volunteer.ie.
Meanwhile, the Archbishops of Armagh and Dublin thanked parishioners who have so far raised over €3.25 million for the crisis in Ukraine.
A special collection in parishes across the island, which mainly took place over the weekend of March 26th and 27th, will be sent to the international Catholic Church agency, Caritas Internationalis, which is currently operating on the ground in Ukraine and its surrounding areas.
“The large funds raised by Irish parishes will be channelled to assist those who are suffering such devastation to their lives and livelihoods,” the Archibishops said.
“Following the sad news this week that seven people, including two Caritas staff, were killed when a Caritas office in Mariupol was shelled, we wish to acknowledge the bravery of humanitarian workers who risk their lives in providing much needed assistance and protection to innocent people who have been caught up in this war. We extend our prayers and deepest sympathy to their families, friends and fellow humanitarian workers.”
