The latest release of payments for the provision of accommodation and other services for Ukrainian refugees and those who have applied for International Protection were published today by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY).
These figures cover the period between July and September 2023.
While the major beneficiaries continue to be the same as Gript has reported before, there are a number of new additions to those drawing down large amounts of money.
Among these are M&F Modular Engineering Limited which received €2,946,900 in August for the provision of “IP Accommodation and/or related costs.”
M&F Modular Engineering is based at Ardee, County Louth and was incorporated on March 3 last, just two days before the OPW released a list of the sites at which the modular home sites would be located. These were Cavan, Sligo, Mahon, Thurles, Claremorris and Rathdowney.
M&F has four directors; John and Una Cunningham of Ardee, Gill Hanlon of Navan, and Hilary O’Brien of Navan.
The company is wholly owned by J&U Master Holdings based at Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, which is itself owned by John and Una Cunningham. It reported a turnover of more than €30 million in 2022, and profits after tax of just over €3 million.
Among the other recipients of big cheques were the Cape Wrath group which owns City West and is itself a part of the giant Tetrarch corporation.
They collected more than €21 million in the three months between July and September to bring their total haul from the refugee sector to more than €80 million since early 2022.
Guestford which owns the Red Cow Hotel which houses both Ukrainian and other refugees received €5.3 million in the same period, bringing their total to over €42 million.Banty McEneaney’s Brimwood drew down another €5.6 million, Tirwaley clocked in at €5..5 million and Travelodge and Tifco at more than €10 million.
The new release also includes several other interesting details which we will be reporting on over the coming days. Stay tuned.