MINISTER Roderic O’Gorman has today claimed that Ukrainian refugees are being moved from Phoenix House in Shannon due to concerns about the suitability of the building.
The 75 residents have received just two weeks notice that they will have to leave the building they have called home for some time, as they are to be transferred to Lisdoonvarna.
Several of residents this week told the Clare Champion that the move will see them have to quit jobs they have taken up locally, while there are concerns about the impact of the sudden move on children already traumatised as a result of the Russian violence inflicted on their home towns.
In a message to Clare TD Cathal Crowe on Wednesday, Minister O’Gorman said, “The contract for this property was terminated due to concerns raised following a site visit by the Ukraine Compliance team, along with QTS, an independent inspection company hired by the Department, and the Department of Social Protection. The Department is consolidating the Beneficiaries Of Temporary Protection (BOTP) accommodation portfolio, with a focus on ending contracts with non-compliant providers, and in this context a decision was taken to terminate this property.
“Every effort has been made to keep BOTPs as local as possible, but there are very few vacancies in the area due to a significant number of moves. BOTPs are free to make their own arrangements for accommodation, or to reach out to the Red Cross or the Local Authority to avail of pledged or offer a home properties. All accommodation provided by the Department is temporary, and BOTPs are informed of this when the request accommodation from the State. Over the next months a significant number of contracts will be ended across the country, and as much notice will be provided to BOTPs to allow them to make their own arrangements if they wish to do so.”
Kevin Toomey is principal of St John’s National School in Shannon, which has taken in a large number of Ukrainian children since early 2022.
On Wednesday he criticised the decision to move the children away from an area where they have settled. “In the middle of this, through no fault of their own, is a group of kids who have settled in Shannon and treat it as their home. They are in schools here, on teams, have friends here. They have been dragged from their home country, a decision made for them, and left behind their lives, relatives and suffered bereavements because of the war. Now, as a money making/cost cutting measure-once again- they are being hauled back to Lisdoonvarna against their wishes to start all over again.
“It’s the children who lose again. Regardless of where you stand politically, this is fundamentally wrong.”
Earlier this week the residents prepared a letter, seeking help, as they face an unwanted move to Lisdoonvarna. ” “Our accommodation centre is home to many families from the occupied territories, from border areas, where intense fighting is still taking place, where shells arrive every day, houses and infrastructure are destroyed, and people die. We do not have an opportunity to return to our hometowns in Ukraine.
“Shannon became a real home for us, and we already are integrated into the Shannon community.
“Many of us have got jobs in stores, factories, and the shopping centre. Children are involved in education, sports, clubs, they attend different activities and events with local community organisations. Small children attend playschools, speech therapy and other services, which is very important for young children for whom it is very difficult to start speaking.
“We became full members of this community and are trying to support the state and Shannon community by working and paying taxes, getting involved in community initiatives, etc,” the letter said.
It claimed that the move to Lisdoonvarna will create a number of new issues. “We would like to mention that as far as we know there are already many Ukrainians in Lisdoonvarna, and the resources there are limited: limited places for children in primary school and secondary school, playschool; speech therapist and other special services are not available. Due to the hostilities taking place in Ukraine, children have suffered psychological trauma, and many have Post Traumatic Stress syndrome. In Ireland children have got an opportunity to have a happy childhood again, but adaptation to a new place in a new school, with new teachers and students, will be difficult. It was already difficult for children: changing countries and languages, getting used to another culture and traditions. It was a huge stressboth for adults and children.
“There are many people with disability in the centre and people who require observation and medical care, some people waiting for an appointment for surgery, and one woman with a cancer diagnosis, registered in Cork and Limerick hospitals. It will be very difficult to get all these supports living in Lisdoonvarna, as we don’t have our own cars and public transport is limited. People already employed in Shannon will lose their jobs and opportunity to support their stay in Ireland and not become a burden on the state.”
They appealed for help to stay in the area. “We are aware that housing and accommodation generally in Ireland and specifically in Shannon is a big problem. And we are thankful that we have a roof on our heads. But we kindly ask you to help us to stay nearby, in Shannon, Ennis, Limerick, Sixmilebridge, Newmarket-on-Fergus, or consider extending our stay at Shannon Town Centre, Phoenix House.
“We all are trying to find accommodation ourselves as well, but it is very hard to find anything, especially in such a short period of time.
“Please help us to save our jobs, places in schools, playschools, sports for children, child development clubs, and access to medical and support services.”
Tetyana is one of the residents at Phoenix House. She is from the Kharkiv region, which is close to the Russian border and has been a focus of a renewed attack by the invaders in recent weeks.
Her son is a third year student at St Patrick’s Comprehensive and she says he is devastated at having to move again. “It is our third time relocating, for three months before coming here we were in Limerick. He was going to St Patrick’s Comprehensive, he was happy there, but now we have to go. I have no words to say it, he is just very upset.”
Mariana Vashcheniuk is site supervisor at Phoenix House and a resident also.
She is concerned about the impact of the move. “We have children who have PTSD, they have gone to therapy in Shannon, everyone is living and working here, the children are used to this place, but now we get this letter to go to Lisdoonvarna. We’re told there aren’t places in schools for children there.
“Everybody will lose their jobs, children will lose their school places and friends, it’ll be new stress for all of us.”
She said they have not been able to get much information about the Lisdoonvarna accommodation. “We don’t know the rooms where we will be living. People who are there have told us it will be sharing rooms. There are some Mums with children and we’re told they will have to share with other people.”
Many of the residents live in areas now occupied by Russia, she said, with no prospect of return. “There are a lot of families from Mariupol whose houses were destroyed. They don’t have a place to return. We are very appreciative of the help from Ireland and from local people.”
Misha, a teenager now attending St Patrick’s Comprehensive, remembers Mariupol as the invasion began. “It was a very difficult time, the destruction, it was scary.”
Coming to Shannon was not easy, because he heard the sounds of planes all the time which brought back difficult memories. However, he and his family settled and he is disappointed that they have to go once again. “It’s not good. We have friends here, we have been learning English here, now we have to go to this village. I don’t know what will happen with school.”
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked with a number of other publications in Limerick, Cork and Galway. His first book will be published in December 2024.