Council has examined 27 Kerry properties with view to housing Ukrainian refugees

KERRY County Council have confirmed that they have carried out technical examinations of 27 properties in Kerry to house Ukrainian refugees.

However, a full list of the properties examined is not available according to CEO Moira Murrell who said such information may be ‘commercially sensitive’.

It is also not known how many of the 27 have been successful or refused for use.

Cllr Jackie Healy-Rae sought information at this month’s meeting of Kerry County Council on the number of properties put forward under the Ukrainian Refurbishment programme and how many were approved or refused under the programme which he said is aimed at using vacant properties to accommodate refugees rather than hotels.

He said the scheme would be help alleviate the pressure on the tourism industry by moving refugees out of hotels and into the properties deemed suitable.

“This is a commons sense plan. Surely one, two or three of the properties are suitable and would ease the burden on the hospitality industry.”

He said that Ukrainian refugees have been in Ireland now for two years yet hotel accommodation was meant to be a short-term solution, not a longterm solution.

“The refurbishment programme is ideal. The Government can stop using hotels and the refugees can be transferred to other places and when they leave those building can go back to being used,” he said.

In response to his query the council said responsibility for the processing of applications and awarding of contracts under the Emergency Refurbishment (Ukraine) Programme rests with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability Integration & Youth.

National protocols require Kerry County Council to carry out technical assessments of properties being considered under the Refurbishment Programme, including Planning, Fire Safety Certification and

Building Control assessments. To To date, the Council has been notified of 27 such properties in Kerry which are at various stages of the technical assessment process.

These technical assessments are then forwarded to DCEDIY who make a determination on the awarding or otherwise of contracts under the Refurbishment Programme.

The Department of Equality told The Kerryman they can only confirm use of a premises once a contract has been signed, and will, in the first instance, inform local public representatives and statutory agencies through its Community Engagement Team.

The Department is not in a position to confirm the specific use of any premises until the accommodation is contracted, they said in a statement.