Stradbally Hall accommodation contract in Laois for Ukrainians only

Stradbally Hall will only be used for Ukrainians fleeing war according to its owner who believes its use for international protection applicants would be ‘irresponsible’.

Thomas Cosby also insists that cabins on the site can contractually only be used for Ukrainians and said he has not been approached by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth to vary the terms to extend its use to people seeking asylum in Ireland.

“The deal we have is for Ukrainians which is not transferable to international protection. It’s as simple as that,” he said.

The Electric Picnic host also said the Department had ‘absolutely not’ approached him to vary the terms to allow non-Ukrainians nor has he contacted them.

Mr Cosby said the current contract, which facilitates accommodation for up to 950 people in Stradbally Hall at any one time, runs to the end of May. 

It has been reported that just 30 people are residing there at present but Mr Cosby said he was restricted from stating how many people live there. However, he said he expects the number of people moved to the heated cabins to increase. 

As to fears that his property would be attacked, Mr Cosby described it as ‘nonsense’ the arson attacks carried out elsewhere in the country.

He said there had been no problems in the community with the Ukrainians living in the tents and subsequently cabins since the Stradbally Hall first began taking the refugees after the Electric Picnic last year.

He said a suggestion that it would be used for international protection applicants was  ‘irresponsible’. 

The Department told the Leinster Express / Laois Live that the Stradbally site is “set aside” for newly arrived Ukrainians or Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs).

It said this would remain the case until legislation gives effect to changes in social welfare entitlements for newly arrived Ukrainians. It said changes in policy to the provision of accommodation will be brought into effect alongside the changes in social welfare entitlements.

The Government intends using Designated Accommodation Centres instead of Stradbally where people fleeing the war in Ukraine will be accommodated for a maximum of 90 days.

Questions over the future use of Stradbally emerged after an independent local election candidate in Laois, Pauline Flanagan said only approximately 30 refugees are on the site at this time.

 "This is absolutely shocking. I think it is disgraceful the way monies are being mismanaged by the Department of Integration.  How much is this facility that is essentially not being used, costing us, the taxpayer?

“I was lucky enough to get a tour of this site about a month ago and the facilities are exceptional.  I recall thinking how delighted I was to see such a safe, well-run, secure environment for refugees.  All bedrooms have their own-door, en-suites with heated and insulated cabins, enclosed within large marquee type structures that are also heated, containing all ancillary facilities," she said. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Picture of the original facilities installed last September above.

She asked: "Why are refugees being housed in much-needed tourist and local hotels throughout Ireland and why are there homeless people sleeping on the streets when there are over 800 beds EMPTY in Laois?"

The number of people who have fled the war in Ukraine and found refuge in Laois has risen by just 65% in the past 12 months according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

The report published on February 20 shows that there were 1,441 arrivals from Ukraine into Laois by February 4 this year.  That's up on the 873 arrivals into the county as of February 12, 2023.

Nationally, there were 104,870 arrivals from Ukraine in Ireland this October which is up from 96,338 last October and 74,458 a year ago.