Phoenix House refugee centre
Deputy Crowe asked that Phoenix House in Shannon remain open for Ukrainian refugees beyond the current contract expiry. The Minister of State acknowledged local support but said compliance issues had to be taken seriously and arrangements were being managed carefully.
At a time of disharmony, protest and, sometimes, even the horrible burning of accommodation facilities, I have something unique here: a petition signed by 500 people in Shannon, County Clare, asking the Government to keep Phoenix House, a Ukrainian war refugee centre, open and to extend the contract beyond this Friday. It has been a wonderful home to almost 200 Ukrainian refugees for the past two years. I have letters from employers and local schools. It would be so disruptive to close this facility on Friday. So many of the residents will go from employment to unemployment when they are moved to Lisdoonvarna. So many students currently at school, many of them sitting their junior certificate or leaving certificate examinations this week, will be totally disrupted. I brought this to the Minister, Roderic O'Gorman. There are only 48 hours left. There is a community, there are employers, there are trade unions and there are politicians united, asking that this facility remain open. There have been minor compliance issues - and I have done my own research into that - but this needs to happen. Hats off to this community in Shannon, County Clare. I want to mention Joanne Begley and Siobhán Boyd, the leadership they have shown and the leadership the community has shown, but this will require ministerial intervention.
Comment on this
I echo the Deputy's acknowledgment of the community's efforts and the community's backing of the Ukrainians living there. We see this across the country. It does not get coverage. Maybe in situations such as this it does, but this is the story across the country. There are compliance issues. We have to take them very seriously. That said, we have been cognisant of the fact that people have started lives in the community. In particular as regards the exam situation the Deputy mentioned, we have brought that into play. People should be able to finish their school year and exams, but there is a compliance issue and we have to take it seriously. The majority of people who will be moved will find accommodation in County Clare.