Ukrainian refugees

Ukrainian refugees in Ireland suddenly began to be resettled: the Irish call the government’s actions cruel

Ukrainian refugees who have found temporary shelter in Ireland are once again forced to face life’s difficulties, which become even more painful due to the sudden decisions of the Irish government. Despite the fact that many of them have already adapted to the new environment, rebuilding their lives in local communities, the government decided to resettle them without paying attention to the consequences. This decision caused a wave of criticism from the public and local politicians, who called such actions not only cruel, but also counterproductive.

Ukrainian refugees currently living in two counties of Ireland, in particular in Cork and Kerry, received unexpected letters from the Department of Integration. In these letters, they were informed about the need to move to new places of residence. 144 Ukrainians from Cork and an as yet unknown number of refugees from Kerry have been faced with the fact that they will have to leave their communities by the end of August, with no clear indication of where they will be resettled. Those with pets have been hit particularly hard, as the Department has announced it will no longer provide accommodation for their pets, forcing people to look for alternatives.

The Irish Examiner notes that the government explains this step by the decrease in the number of contracts for the accommodation of Ukrainians due to the reduction in demand for public housing. However, local politicians and activists harshly criticize such a decision, pointing out that it destroys already established connections and integration of refugees into local communities. Social Democrat leader Holly Kearns called the move “brutal” and disruptive to the lives of people who have already suffered significant trauma from the war. She emphasizes that these people have already become part of local communities, found work, sent their children to school, but now they are forced to seek stability again in new, unfamiliar conditions.

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Although the Irish government says that resettlement was intended as a temporary solution and there was always the possibility that people could be resettled, this does not make the situation any easier for those who have lost yet another asylum. Officials acknowledge that the process is complex and can be very disruptive for resettlers, but note that they try to ensure resettlement within the same regions, although this is not always possible.

To date, thousands of Ukrainians have already encountered this problem. According to The Times, as of July 2024, more than 2,500 refugees have already been resettled. Although the Irish government recognizes the difficulties faced by migrants, it continues to cut public support, citing financial reasons. The new rules for refugees include not only resettlement, but also a reduction in financial assistance, which forces people to look for independent housing more quickly. At the same time, despite the reduction in aid, Ireland still remains among the countries with the best payments for Ukrainians, although the situation is far from ideal.

In light of these decisions, many Ukrainian refugees find themselves at a crossroads, forced to choose between instability and financial uncertainty. And while the Irish government has yet to decide how to proceed after the EU Directive expires in March 2025, the flow of new refugees to the country has dropped significantly, as survival in a high standard of living becomes an increasingly difficult challenge for those starting from scratch.

 

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