Electric Picnic tents only alternative for Ukrainians insists Laois Minister

"It's tents or the streets".

That is the stark admission made by Laois-based Minister of State Seán Fleming in response to the move to set up a refugee camp on the site of the Electric Picnic.

The Laois Offaly TD is among the politicians in Laois who have been briefed by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth on the plan to house up to 750 people who have fled the Russian war on their homeland in Festival tents.

Minister Fleming, who has responsibility for International Development and Diaspora at the Department of Foreign Affairs, expressed the view that the Government has no choice at present but to use the Picnic opportunity.

"It's tents or the streets for now," he said.

However, he insisted that the Stradbally option could not be used going into the winter and other alternatives would have to be found as it would not be acceptable to have people living in tents through winter.

He said that the Stradbally site would operate in a similar way to the City West transition centre where Ukrainians are accommodated on a temporary basis before being relocated to places suited to more long-term living.

The Fianna Fáil TD said it is hoped that hotel rooms would come back into use for the Government to avail of as the tourist season begins to wind down going into winter.

Some of those who will be moved to Stradbally have been living in student accommodation since arriving over the summer.

He said the tents to be used for the Ukrainians are accommodation that is used by families attending the Electric Picnic. He believed it would be satisfactory in the short term but not beyond the six weeks agreed upon.

He added that services would be provided on-site by first aid teams supported by the out-of-hours GP service in Laois. Minister Fleming added that schools would not be required to take in Ukrainian children as they are not expected to be in Stradbally for a long period.

'Grave reservations' in Laois over putting Ukrainian refugees in Electric Picnic tents

Asked about consultation he said Laois County Council, the HSE, and the Gardaí had been notified of the plan in the past week. He added that he had subsequently learned of the plan and was among the public representatives to receive a briefing note on September 1 - the first day of the Picnic.

He acknowledged that there has been little direct public consultation in the shape of a town hall meeting or otherwise with the people of Stradbally which has a population 1,400.

Minister Fleming said the absence of consultation by the Festival Republic and the Cosby family with the public was a matter for both of those parties.

Pastures New Ltd to run Electric Picnic Ukraine refugee Laois campsite - read the Government 'briefing note'

The Department is to brief public representatives on the plan on September 4.