Councillors slam ‘inhumane’ attempt to evict Ukrainians on Christmas week

SHOCKING, cold-hearted and inhumane. Just some of the words used to describe the abrupt decision by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to force Ukrainian families out of their homes at the former Tougher’s Restaurant, Dublin Road, Carlow on Christmas week.

While the 150 families received an 11th hour reprieve, their fate is still uncertain, with suggestions that the centre may close permanently at the end of month.

Last week, approximately 100 of the residents gathered at the offices of Carlow County Council to outline their plight to council members and officials before their January meeting.

At the meeting, cllr Fintan Phelan and other members were highly critical of the timing of the decision just two weeks before Christmas. “It was a disgraceful, cold-hearted decision that showed absolutely no consideration for people. Children preparing for their school nativity plays and concerts … it was simply not good enough,” said cllr Phelan.

He also said it was important that “we don’t undo” the warm welcome and all the goodwill shown by the people of Carlow to the people of Ukraine.

“It truly was shocking,” said cllr Fergal Browne, adding the analogy that “Mary and Joseph also couldn’t find accommodation on Christmas night thousands of years ago”.

Cllr Andrea Dalton remarked that “whoever made that inhumane decision couldn’t have a human bone in their body”. She stated that, as a community worker, she had a number of Ukrainian students living in Tougher’s on one of her courses, pointing out that they were halfway through their courses when given this news.

Cllr Dalton thanked the council chief executive Coilín O’Reilly for his role in finding a solution in the short term, which allowed the Tougher residents to stay over Christmas.

She added that if the contract has come to an end that June would be a more suitable month, allowing children to finish school, students to finish their courses and give residents adequate time to secure alternative accommodation.

Cllr John Cassin said he found it “quite funny” that people were critical of a department that is “run by their own government parties. It’s the government that is doing this”, he added.

Later in the meeting, cllr Adrienne Wallace brought forward a notice of motion calling on the council to write to the department requesting that it extend the stay of the Ukrainian refugees wishing to stay in Tougher’s, once all fire safety measures are in place. The motion noted that many Ukrainian families ‘have established deep roots in Carlow, including taking up employment, voluntary work and school places for children and adults in higher education’.

“Ultimately it is the government who have total control over the department that decide these things and they have to find a humane solution,” said cllr Wallace.

“The war in Ukraine is not over yet; why are the government downgrading the support? It’s not fair on the families – they have been through enough trauma,” she added.

Mr O’Reilly stated that he had “massive sympathy for the people of Ukraine”, adding that he was “as shocked as everyone” about the decision in December and had “no idea where the decision came from”. He said the issuing of a fire certificate “bought us a month”, but added that this was simply “buying time”. He said that fewer people were now arriving from Ukraine and department contracts were ending; however, he agreed to write to the department and ask for an extension of time for Tougher’s.

A strident cllr Dalton remarked “We are born in a democracy”, adding this meant that everyone was entitled to challenge government or department decisions that they disagree with, while cllr Phelan urged cllr Wallace not to make this “a political football”.

“I could have raised the connection between your party and Vladimir Putin, but I didn’t,” he quipped.

Cllr Wallace’s motion was passed.