Government accused of 'performative cruelty' over U-turn on accommodation for Ukrainian refugees

Ukrainians living in State-provided accommodation who have reached their 90-day limit will be turned out from next Wednesday

By: irishmirror.ie

Jun 16 2024
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Government accused of 'perform

The Government has been accused of “performative cruelty” over its U-turn on accommodation for Ukrainian refugees.

Up to 40 people from the war-torn country will be forced out onto the street every week under new rules, the Ukraine Civil Society Forum warned. Ukrainians living in State-provided accommodation who have reached their 90-day limit will be turned out from next Wednesday.

Advocates and opposition politicians warned it would see vulnerable people, including the elderly, women and children, living in tents because the refugees will not be eligible for emergency accommodation. People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy slammed the Government for “performative cruelty” over the accommodation decisions.

He told RTE Radio One’s Colm O Mongain: “I think how Ukrainians were treated initially should be how we treat people who are seeking asylum.”

Mr Murphy said the prior policy allowing Ukrainians to work and giving them higher welfare benefits was “basically treating Ukrainians properly” whereas people from Palestine are “left on the streets and given €38.50”.

The Dublin TD said the numbers of people coming to Ireland are falling and the Government should adopt the “Ukrainian model” for all people seeking asylum here.

On May 31, there were 45,330 Ukrainians in accommodation. (Image: Getty)

Natalia Krasnenkova, who stood unsuccessfully in the local elections in Co Kerry, said it can be difficult to find housing after arriving here having fled war. She said it took her “six months to find an apartment to rent” despite having a full-time job, accommodation references and social connections.

She added there was no long-term strategy and instead, the Government was making “spontaneous” decisions. Ms Krasnenkova added: “We are here not because it’s our decision, it’s because of war.” The Government defended itself against the criticism, insisting changes were necessary, two years into the war.

Minister of State James Browne said he was proud of what had been done for refugees from Ukraine up to now, but there cannot be a situation where the Government is providing “open-ended accommodation”.

He claimed there was a “frustration” in Ireland over “secondary movements”, where a Ukrainian refugee arrives to Ireland after first spending time in another country. He added: “If you’re fleeing a war that’s one thing, but if you’re already being accommodated in one EU state there’s no real reason to be moving to another new EU state to seek a different type of support.”

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