Ukrainians Seeking Protection in Ireland

8 April 2022

8th April 2022

On 24 February 2022, Russia began a military invasion of Ukraine, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict that had begun in 2014.

In the days that have followed millions of Ukrainian women and children have sought protection in countries that will accept them. Since the beginning of March work has been ongoing to make accommodation available to Ukrainian people in Ireland.

Civil Defence has been involved/ tasked as follows.

Rosslare Port – Assist and support Ukrainian people arriving in Rosslare.  Circa. 12 volunteers every second day as Cherbourg vessel arrives in port.  Wexford Civil Defence leading.

Unit Taskings 

Dublin:

19th March – Set up four Rest Centres and receiving Ukrainians seeking protection. Two Centres fully operational and two more prepared awaiting further Ukrainian people – 240 beds in total. Assistance received from Wicklow, Westmeath, Kildare and Waterford Units.

23rd March – Tasked by Department of Children to provide medical cover at City West from 7pm to midnight on a daily basis.

25th March – Set up additional Rest Centre in north county Dublin to facilitate 60 people, operational immediately.

28th March – Swords Rest Centre still operational (67 displaced persons), staffed 24/7 (assisted by Meath, Westmeath, Wicklow and Kildare units). Donaobate Rest Centre closed at 5am. Medical cover continuing daily at City West from 7pm to midnight.

29th March – 37 persons transported to Airport for registration and onward travel to Wexford and Donegal. Cancer patient assessed by HSE nurse at airport. Two families reunited with extended family members who arrived in recent days. Balance of 19 later transported to Airport and for onward journey to accommodation.

31st March – 62 people accommodated in Rest Centre tonight.

1st April – Additional Rest Centre set up for 60 people.

2nd April – 31 displaced persons still remain on Swords Rest Centre.

4th April – 26 displaced persons transferred to hotel in Clare.

6th April – 70 displaced persons and a number of pets arrived in Swords Rest Centre.

7th April – 6 displaced people departed Rest Centre; 64 displaced people still on site.

8th April – Second Rest Centre opened to facilitate 40 people.

 

Wexford:

17th March – In Rosslare Harbour, Welfare Unit providing Reception for 136 Ukrainian people, 35 of whom require accommodation. Working port side to get cars into appropriate lanes for immigration and working to get dog and cat cages for transport to accommodation centres. Collected bedding to set up Rest Centre in Tagoat for 50 people.

19th March – 155 displaced persons received at Rosslare Port;

21st March – 185 displaced persons received at Rosslare Port. Civil Defence helped manage vehicles and passengers through immigration process.

24th March – 171 displaced persons arrived at Rosslare Port. Civil Defence assisting with vehicles and immigration process.

28th March – Civil Defence assisting with managing displaced persons at Rosslare Port.

31st March – 138 displaced persons arrived in Rosslare Port. Rest Centre set up for 50 plus people, operational, supplying breakfast and dinner.

2nd April – 116 displaced persons arrived, 46 on foot, 70 in cars to new IPAS hub. Rest Centre still operational – 46 persons provided with breakfast and dinner by Welfare Service.

2nd April – 10th April – Accommodating and feeding 46 displaced persons in Rest Centre.

 

Kerry:

18th – 21st March – Rest Centre set up for 50 people in Tralee. Subsequently stood down as alternative accommodation sourced by local authority.

1st April – Setting up Rest Centre in Tralee for 50 people.

 

Meath:

18th – 20th March – Set up Rest Centre at Meath Civil Defence HQ for 50 people. Welfare Team establishing Reception Area in County Hall and at Moate View House. Assisting at Dublin Rest Centre.

29th March – 50 displaced people allocated to Meath HQ Rest Centre for the night.

31st March – Operations scaled up to cater for 78 people.

6th April – 70 displaced persons and 3 pets arrived at Rest Centre.

 

Kilkenny:

18th – 20th March – Set up Rest Centre for 50 people. Welfare Team got evening meals in place for Saturday and Sunday. Collected provisions/donations from Dublin and Carlow.

28th March – 55 people housed in Kilkenny hotels. Civil Defence did meet and greet and provided provisions where needed.

29th March – 150 people now housed in Kilkenny hotels. Civil Defence delivered clothing and provisions to five families.

3rd April – Rest Centre set up for 46 people.

5th April – Assessing needs of 79 displaced persons in hotel and delivering provisions as required.

6th April – 42 displaced persons arrived to Rest Centre from City West and Shannon Airport

 

Roscommon:

18th March – Set up Rest Centre. Relocated 38 displaced persons.

1st April – Second Rest Centre opened.

 

Kildare:

18th – 20th March – Set up Rest Centre for 50 people. Assisting at Dublin Rest Centre.

31st March – Rest Centre set up for 75 people.

6th April – 44 displaced persons arrived to Newbridge Rest Centre.

 

Carlow:

18th – 20th March – Set up Rest Centre. 50 beds booked for weekend.

27th March – 49 displaced persons accommodated in hotels. Supplies provided by Civil Defence.

30th March – 45 displace persons accommodated in hotels. Supplies provided by Civil Defence.

6th April – Rest Centre set up in Ballon Community Centre.

7th April – 48 displaced people arrived at Rest Centre.

 

Monaghan:

18th – 20th March – Rest Centre set up for 50 people at CD Headquarters, Monaghan Town. Subsequently stood down as accommodation sourced elsewhere.

3rd April – Providing accommodation and welfare assistance to 40 displaced persons in Rest Centre.

8th April – 3 displace persons relocated to Galway; 37 displaced persons remain in Rest Centre.

 

Westmeath:

18th – 20th March – Rest Centre for up capacity of 46 people set up and cooking facility ready. Assisting at Dublin Rest Centre.

3rd April – 11 displaced persons arrived to operational Rest Centre.

4th April – 5 additional displaced persons arrived to Rest Centre.

5th April – 1 further displaced person arrived to Rest Centre.

6th April – All displaced persons transferred to accommodation. Civil Defence stood down from Rest Centre.

 

Laois:

18th – 20th March – Set up Rest Centre. Collecting beds from hotels.

 

Cork City:

18th – 20th March – Support to City Council with provision of beds, sleeping bags and liners.

 

Cavan:

18th – 20th March – Rest Centre set up for 50 people. Subsequently stood down as accommodation sourced with tourist accommodation providers.

1st April – Set up Rest Centre for 50 people – 44 displaced persons expected.

 

Cork North:

18th March – Set up Rest Centre on Friday for over 40 people in an old convent in Buttevant for their arrival from Dublin.

19th March – Assisted with donations arriving at centre, surplus donations transported to Ardagh Rest Centre from Buttevant.

 

Limerick:

18th – 20th March – Set up Rest Centre for 60 people. Volunteers collected donations from Buttevant and transported them back to Limerick Rest centre.

31st March – Setting up Rest Centre for 75 people.

1st – 2nd April – 22 displaced persons accommodated at Rest Centre.

4th April – Second Rest Centre set up in Pallaskenry. 14 displaced persons arrived.

7th April – 17 displaced persons arrived to Pallaskenry Rest Centre; 31 in total at Rest Centre

 

Tipperary:

18th – 20th March – 50 displaced persons in hotel accommodation. Civil Defence involved with organising essential supplies of nappies, baby food, and medical assistance.

1st April – Rest Centre set up

1st – 3rd April – 59 displaced persons currently in Rest Centre

5th April – All 59 displaced persons moved to onward accommodation

 

Waterford:

18th – 20th March – Assisted at Dublin Rest Centre over weekend.

2nd April – Set up Rest Centre in Dungarvan (60 capacity)

3rd April – 58 displaced persons accommodated at Dungarvan Rest Centre.

 

Wicklow:

Since 18th March – Assisting at Dublin Rest Centre.

1st April – Rest Centre set up in Arklow for 50 people.

4th April – 5th April – 18 displaced persons and 9 pets arrived to Rest Centre.

6th April – Family of 4 and pet arrived to Rest Centre.

7th April – 4 displaced people departed Rest Centre and 18 displaced people arrived to Rest Centre.

 

Leitrim:

18th – 20th March – Set up Rest Centre for 50 people.

2nd April – Set up Rest Centre for 50 people.

3rd April – 91 displaced persons in Leitrim Rest Centres.

4th April – Assisting LA in sourcing additional suitable accommodation.

 

Longford:

18th – 20th March – Collection of emergency beds, supplies & provisions to facilitate the setting up of a Rest Centre should it be required.

1st April – Set up Rest Centre for 75 people.

3rd April – 51 displaced persons currently in operational Rest Centre.

4th April – Displaced persons transferred to hotel in Clare.

 

Louth:

30th March – 23 displaced persons arrived at Drogheda. Civil Defence assisting overnight.

1st April – Assisting with displaced persons arriving into Dundalk.

6th April – Transported 40 displaced persons to and from hotel for information sessions; transported 3 families to GP appointments.

7th April – Transported 2 families to Hostel Accommodation

 

Galway:

3rd April – 44 displaced persons accommodated in Oranmore Rest Centre.

4th April – Rest Centre stood down.

 

Clare:

7th April – Set up Rest Centre in Ennis.