Ukrainian refugees in Ireland - Megathread

VillageIdiot71

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/some-irish-families-unable-to-cope-with-housing-ukrainian-refugees-1.4844355

The main article is interesting, as a predictable outcome of not pausing for 30 seconds before promoting unfeasible responses.

Lots to wonder about. I found this arresting.

"It’s “even harder” to find hotels for refugees who arrive with pets, as some hotels refuse to take them, but after fleeing war and travelling across the continent with their dogs, cats and other animals, their owners refuse to leave them behind."

How could they have pets with them? How do you even get a pet on the plane? What about the rigorous controls we have to stay rabies free? Apparently.

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/moving_to_ireland/coming_to_live_in_ireland/bringing_pets_to_ireland.html

"Special rules for travellers from Ukraine and Russia in emergency circumstances

You may be able to bring your pet to Ireland without the documents and rules that are described on this page."

Like, is there any sense of proportion left? Given that we've apparently granted special refugee status for ferrets.

Thelonious Monk

"These people who offered these homes have contributed to the biggest and most idiotically negligent and avoidable economic shock the country will have seen since....well, since the one two years ago and the one a decade before it."

You know they're killing women and children in Ukraine now? But all you're worried about is having less money? Some things are more important.

Baybay

Although we’d have a bit of room in our house, I would like to have had more room in my psyche for these poor, poor people & their pets but I know me. I can just about cope with family or friends staying over for a weekend before I start getting twitchy. OH & I spoke at length about how to help & we decided donations & volunteering would be what we’d do. It doesn’t make me feel great & maybe we’ll change our stance as things progress. Can’t get the sight of contact details written on a little girl’s back out of my head, in case she gets separated from her family or they’re all killed.

sameoldname

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118885251#Comment_118885251

Christ, there's a lot of ignorant shite posted on boards, but this one has to be pretty high up there.

sameoldname

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118885289#Comment_118885289

If you guessed hard enough, you probably might get it.

enricoh

I thought it was pie in the sky stuff to be honest.

There was a big push from the government and rte on it to get people to sign up. Not paying the homeowner a few quid towards bills is pathetic, the Brits are giving £350 a month.

I seen on the news last night some rte reporter at a crossing in Slovakia n only a trickle of people were leaving Ukraine and almost as many were going back home. 200k was a rediculous number unless the government were going to rent every hotel n bnb bed in the country.

Spanish Eyes

Anyone know if there is a central portal for volunteering re Ukraine refugees? Or where to get the information other than trawling through the internet for every likely charity/organisation.

Ha Long Bay

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118885334#Comment_118885334

Here you go.

https://registerofpledges.redcross.ie/

Sleeper12

The refugees are entitled to full social welfare. This includes rent allowance. They don't get this in the UK, this is why they are offering money to homeowners there. In Ireland you can charge rent if you want & the state will pay rent allowance

sameoldname

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118885465#Comment_118885465

4.2 million have left the country, 6.5 million are internally displaced, which means that out of the total population of 40 million, ~30 million are still living in their homes. So with that in mind, with millions pushed east in need of accommodation within eastern Ukraine and millions more pushed into surrounding countries which can't cope with the numbers. So we, in solidarity with the Ukrainians and our fellow EU members have allowed refugees fleeing a **** war to come here visa free for a time-limited period. A measure, which is massively popular with the population of this country. Except with a small minority like you.

Did you need it made more simple or do you understand it now?

mrslancaster

From the linked article:

"Officials are examining whether up to 8,000 homes, currently vacant because their owners are in the care of nursing homes under the Fair Deal scheme, could be used to accommodate Ukrainian refugees"

How would that work?

If someone is in the Fair Deal Scheme and their house is currently vacant, does the Minister want to do some sort of compulsory acquisition to house refugees?

NIMAN

I have yet to hear a radio or TV article on the war say that some Ukrainians are returning to their homes again.

Where did you hear/read this?

Sleeper12

Just a guess but I guessing government might wave fair deal payment if they are allowed to use the home

Collie D

You really are a delight.

Overheal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118886400#Comment_118886400

Who isn't sticking up for themselves in this current affair??

The article doesn't report why precisely these families are 'returning' refugees.

elperello

If people underestimated the nature of the commitment they made in good faith to try to help out there is no shame in them admitting it.

Sleeper12

Totally agree

When they say some were returned, they dont say how many. Even families taking in foreign students each year would sometimes return a student because they don't get on.

The main problem is that the red cross has actually housed very few so far. They haven't even inspected many homes. Hundreds upon hundreds of people organised their own refuges through Facebook. The vast majority of those housed so far haven't been through the red cross. The homes weren't inspected & deemed suitable. The homeowners weren't checked and no one explained what to expect.

I do think if the red cross moved quicker homeowners & refugees would be better matched.

Luxembourgo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118885581#Comment_118885581

That would be an almighty slap in the face to the electorate, so many potential issues with the approach.

So they will definitely do it

_Kaiser_

This is no surprise really. The reality of taking in total strangers who are undoubtably shell-shocked and traumatised from their experience and likely physically worn out from their journey, but who are from a completely different culture, with possibly little to no English, and no means to support themselves while the paperwork gets sorted out was never going to end well unfortunately. This is made worse by the financial and other problems being experienced by the hosts and indeed the economy and infrastructure at the moment.

The rush to proclaim and offer impractical support just doesn't stack up against the reality of what is needed. This may be unpopular (as the 2nd post and the raft of thanks indicates) but it's why kneejerk reactions are never the best option.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118886501#Comment_118886501

I think the Red Cross are concentrating on larger accommodation like hotels, disused convents etc. they’re only too aware of the difficulties that families could face taking traumatised strangers from a war torn country into their homes.

Overheal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118886466#Comment_118886466

Well said, they gave it a shot, they give humanity some credibility.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118885511#Comment_118885511

Rent allowance, no longer exists and HAP will not be an option

Dempo1

I've said from the outset , whilst the Gesture laudable, it was completely impractical. It was only after pledges were made , the vetting process was announced. Yesterday there was a report up to 70% of pledged accommodation was unsuitable.

It's clear, Government have started block booking hotels, the Pandemic Palace (City west) now booked to accommodate refugees for 2 years, a hotel in Galway , so remote the crows flying over bring a packed lunch has just announced they are ceasing all hotel business to accommodate refugees. Many more have already done so.

Various reports on Boards of wedding bookings being cancelled with little notice as a result of the crisis.

Michael Martin has confirmed EU will be covering none of the costs of this.

This is turning into Direct Provision +

A Train wreck in slow motion , in essence .

apache

I did notice a lot of refugees had animals with them. I thought they'd have to leave them behind because of papers, quarantine etc.

apache

Anyone know why the accomodation pledged was unsuitable?

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118890654#Comment_118890654

Maybe a little compassion led to rules being set aside.

enricoh

The eu are covering none of the costs of it? Wow, an article the other day put the costs per 10k of refugees staying in hotels n guesthouses at 500m a year. Already people who took people in going to their local TD looking for financial help to cover increased costs.

This is going to turn into an absolute mess if they take anywhere near 200k refugees. Think there's to be 40k in by Easter.

enricoh

https://news.google.com/articles/CAIiEGZdT9sLYl0tV7wQyJAyQqkqGQgEKhAIACoHCAowqfqFCzD7v4MDMNLDjQY?uo=CAUilAFodHRwczovL3d3dy5pcmlzaHRpbWVzLmNvbS9uZXdzL3BvbGl0aWNzL29pcmVhY2h0YXMvc29tZS1mYW1pbGllcy1ob3N0aW5nLXVrcmFpbmlhbi1yZWZ1Z2Vlcy1yZXBvcnRpbmctZmluYW5jaWFsLWNoYWxsZW5nZXMtZCVDMyVBMWlsLXRvbGQtMS40ODQ2MTY40gEA&hl=en-IE&gl=IE&ceid=IE%3Aen

brokenangel

Bit of a depressing thread when you see people jumping up and down with glee as this is not working out for a few families. Nothing on the report says if it’s 5 or 500 but certainly a few seem to want it to be more than less.

I really don’t understand what is wrong with people. Instead of trying to help would prefer to sit on the internet over joyed it hasn’t worked for others

Also noticeable the likes of Paddy Cosgrove and his group of online, well scumbags is best description, are going back to pushing negative comments on Ukraine

What a horrible little group of people we know have in ireland

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118890654#Comment_118890654

No, the Department of Agriculture stepped in and paid for shots etc , estimated to be €100 per pet , there was also a relaxation of documentation requirements.

I'm curious will all these hotels be so welcoming of pets 🤔

Sleeper12

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118890613#Comment_118890613

HAP is most definitely an option. They are entitled to full social welfare rights here in Ireland. A lot of the houses that were pledged are rental properties. HAP will be paying the rent.

I think you don't understand what the pledge is all about. The pledge is for accommodation. It's not exclusively for free accommodation. You can of course offer it for free but you can also change rent & HAP will pay the rent.

It's been mentioned by the government that some fair deal homes might be made available. The plan is for the government to pay rent to the homeowners and it won't effect their fair deal scheme. This rent will be paid via HAP

goldenmick

Who gives a shite about language barriers, rent allowance, pet problems and the rest of the crap some of you bleat about. These issues can be dealt with as and when. These people have nothing, absolutely nothing. Almost all are women and children and a good percentage of them have lost not only their homes but also mothers, fathers, grandparents, husbands, sons, daughters and all their friends and supporting networks. They've had their whole world uprooted and also been traumatised by sights you'll likely never see in your lifetime. And they are utterly exhausted. The vast majority will return to their own country once the war is over and it's safe to do so.

I see we've got a similar handful of heartless, spineless, I'm alright Jack, sod you types on here as in the Russia thread... those who advocate not putting boots on the ground in the Ukraine because their own self preservation against the ultra slim risk of nuclear confrontation, far outweighs letting Putin's army continue to butcher thousands of civilians and rape little girls in front of their mothers, then kill them and drive tanks over their dead bodies.

Really. If a fraction of what's happened to these poor souls happened to you or your family, you would automatically expect similar help from others, including other countries if you were made a refugee. It's called being humane, and it's decency in its simplest form.

Even the title of this thread makes me sick..."Some Irish families 'unable to cope' with housing Ukranian refugees"

Who the f*ck is FORCING anyone to house refugees. You do have a choice.

I'm ashamed to even share the same breathing space as some of you.

Luxembourgo

No glee here. The people who took them in had good intentions, for whatever reason it hadn't worked out.

Paddy Cosgrave really is dispicable

Sleeper12

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/q-a-hosting-ukrainian-refugees-how-will-it-work-1.4826551

"Will homeowners receive financial support?

The accommodation can be provided on a charitable basis, or the homeowner can request to receive the housing assistance payment (Hap), according to the Irish Red Cross. Hap is a payment from local authorities to landlords letting to tenants who receive social housing support, to cover a portion or all of the rent.

Refugees will be entitled to social welfare so may be able to contribute towards electricity and gas bills, an Irish Red Cross spokesman said."

HAP will play a large part in the housing of refugees. Personally I don't have a problem with this. I'm hopeful that many of the refugees will fill the jobs that employers haven't been able to fill, especially in the hospitality industry

apache

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118890679#Comment_118890679

Hopefully compassion will deter rabies. I'm all for them bringing over their pets but there are supposed to be rules for a reason. Are they getting any sort of vet check?

apache

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118890753#Comment_118890753

Oh right so they are getting proper vet checked.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118890754#Comment_118890754

No I absolutely understand what a pledge means and in the context of this crisis, I also understand what sensible, & practical means.

You clearly don't understand how HAP works and I'll say again, is not an option in these circumstances, unless of course government change the Rules.

I'm not aware of any plans government has to pay home owners rent, perhaps you could enlighten me.

There's been an awful lot of mentioning, promises , assumptions , here say and zero substance. Simon Coveney admitted just a few days ago that people might have to stay in tents for maybe 24/48 hours .

Let's be Frank here.

Government went head first into all sorts of promises with absolutely no infrastructure in place, they somehow forgot about an existing housing crisis not to mention the shocking state of health care.

I won't get started on the two tier and benefits system introduced over night but will say the hypocrisy is astounding. Spare at thought for those in Direct provision for years and essentially ignored by the state, its disgraceful.

I say Welcome anyone needing help but my god, have a plan and more importantly treat everyone equally .

apache

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118890679#Comment_118890679

Rules are there for a reason. You have to be careful with things like rabies.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118890807#Comment_118890807

Yes but there's still a concern as documentation rules relaxed and there's no quarantine being enforced , basically cart before the horse approach , I don't know how long it's actually taking to see pets but again, another after thought by government.

apache

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118890840#Comment_118890840

Disaster not having quarantine. Dangerous.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118890853#Comment_118890853

Precisely. I'm genuinely impressed at the obvious care Ukranians show towards their pets , I love animals but it was clear from the outset 100"s of animals , maybe more were going to be entering the country and little preparation in place for this influx. Its possible many of these pets were vaccinated but it's proving it that's difficult as this paper work nit a priority when their owners fleeing.

ZeroThreat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118890764#Comment_118890764

Are we talking about Paddy Cosgrave of the Web Summit?

Sleeper12

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118890820#Comment_118890820

It's never been a secret that HAP would be paid. This is why so many landlords pledged property. You didn't see the link to the Irish Times article that states:

Will homeowners receive financial support?

The accommodation can be provided on a charitable basis, or the homeowner can request to receive the housing assistance payment (Hap), according to the Irish Red Cross. Hap is a payment from local authorities to landlords letting to tenants who receive social housing support, to cover a portion or all of the rent.

Refugees will be entitled to social welfare so may be able to contribute towards electricity and gas bills, an Irish Red Cross spokesman said.

HAP can & will be paid under current legislation. Absolutely no changes required.

This article is almost a month old. HAP has always been planned. If you don't believe the Irish Times then have a look at the citizens information service website. They list what the refugees are entitled to

Beatty69

The worst thing about that article is the pictures of that kip in Citywest, where on earth is the dignity and privacy for people to get changed there or even sleep in peace?

Jesus christ, even in hospital you've a curtain you can pull around you.

2 beds pushed together as well, Covid measure obviously gone out the window.

If I was a refugee put there I'd be on the plane back to Ukraine.

Sleeper12

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118890960#Comment_118890960

I agree.

They are talking about using tents in the coming weeks.

Very sad

iamwhoiam

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118890960#Comment_118890960

I would presume the two beds pushed together are for a mother and child in all fairness

goldenmick

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118890960#Comment_118890960

If you had to live through the horrors in Ukraine, trust me, you'd sleep in a cow shed if needs be. The only thing these poor people are concerned about is being as far away as possible from Putin's Hitler march.

Beatty69

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118890977#Comment_118890977

God almighty, I hope we don't turn to tents, I would be ashamed of Ireland if we turn to that.

Beatty69

Also, no way was Citywest set up like that during Covid so why can't they set it up properly again??

goldenmick

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118890997#Comment_118890997

They'd still be warm, fed and most importantly safe. And I'm certain they'd be very grateful for that.

Beatty69

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118891017#Comment_118891017

Warm and safe in a tent in Ireland, get a grip.