A property which operated as a nursing home in Birr before being used to house Ukrainian refugees is now set to be used to provide accommodation to arrivals claiming asylum, the Department of Integration has confirmed.
In April, Midlands Radio reported that Ukrainian children being housed in the Offaly premises were ‘devastated’ at having to leave their accommodation – but the families being housed were moved on by end of May 2024, a briefing from the Department said today.
At the time, there were 42 Ukrainians living at Elm Grove, including some with challenging and complex medical needs, and the residents said that while the Department decided not to renew the contract with Elm Grove House to house them, it would not elaborate on why they took this decision.
Now the Department has announced that “88 beds will be provided for people seeking refuge in Ireland who are International Protection Applicants in Elm Grove House”, adding that it the accommodation will be for families but that “is not possible to say with certainty what the length of stay will be”.
It described the former nursing home as “situated in a country parkland setting in a prime location, only a short drive and walking distance from the centre of Birr”.
A self-catering service would be provided on site, the Department said. “Every resident will be given a food voucher card. This card will be topped up every Monday. Residents then have the ability to purchase their own food and can store and cook their own meals on the property.”
“Each resident will have toiletries replenished weekly and other essentials such as toilet paper replenished as needed. The facility will have high speed fibre Wi-Fi,” the Department added.
“The property is owned and operated by Coolebridge Ltd with at least two members of staff on-site 24 hours a day. Coolebridge Ltd is also operating a number of other properties for the accommodation of IPAS,” the briefing document noted.
Coolebridge Ltd has earned millions in revenue from asylum accommodation, with €2.3 million paid over by the state in Quarter 1 of 2024 alone.