Kildare accommodation centre for Ukrainian refugees to reopen
It has been condemned as a waste of money
An accommodation centre, which provided temporary homes for refugees from the war which followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, is to be reopened.
The original site of the designated accommodation centre is being opened again at Newhall, Naas.
It’s being set up for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection who are fleeing the ongoing war in Ukraine and, according to the Department of Justice, Homeland Affairs and Migration is solely for that purpose.
The site's designation as a DAC means that new arrivals being accommodated at the centre will only receive a maximum of 90 days accommodation.
It will reopen on October 16 for a three-month period and will have an initial maximum capacity of 350 bed spaces.
The centre was established near Flood’s Cross, roughly between Naas and Newbridge, and is located close to the main route linking the towns.
It closed last March and had been open for about a year.
The project was managed by Pastures New Ltd, the company associated with the creation of tented-type accommodation for Ukrainians at Stradbally, County Laois, in the wake of the Electric Picnic concert event in 2023.
It’s understood that the company will again manage the project.
Independent councillor Bill Clear has criticised the decision as a waste of money - given the decision to dismantle the site.
“What a total waste of money; they will have to rebuild it now. We (the councillors) told them not to take it down at the time because it might be required in the future,” said Cllr Clear.