Dalata, Ireland’s largest hotel operator, has confirmed ten of its hotels are working with the government to provide accommodation to Ukrainian refugees.
It comes as local authorities are being asked to provide an “inventory” of serviced lands where temporary housing could be erected quickly. The Department of Housing has asked local authorities to identify vacant housing which can “easily and quickly” be brought back into use as emergency accommodation.
More than 6,000 refugees have arrived in Ireland since the Russian invasion of Ukraine last month, with up to 100,000 expected in the coming weeks and months.
Dalata, which operates 47 hotels under the Maldron and Clayton brands, said it was providing full-board accommodation in five locations across the country.
The Times understands Dalata is currently accommodating 200 Ukrainian refugees, but that number is likely to grow. It’s also understood that locally, the group’s hotels are providing essentials such as footwear, clothing and phone chargers, as well as welcome packs for children.
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The Address Connolly, on the north side of Dublin city centre, has confirmed that it is offering its services exclusively to the government “with immediate effect” by providing food and accommodation to Ukrainian refugees. The hotel has 278 bedrooms.
Brian McGettigan, founder of the hotel, said: “When speaking with the department [of children and equality] about using our hotel for this humanitarian effort, it only took a moment to decide on the right way to proceed.
“As an increasing number of Ukraine citizens are making their way into Dublin airport, the need for emergency accommodation is urgent. The level of understanding, empathy and co-operation from our guests and industry partners has been remarkable and really re-enforces that we have made the right decision in joining this effort.”
The Prem Group, an international hotel and hospitality management company founded in Dublin, said it had offered some of its rooms to authorities but nothing was arranged as of yet.
The Irish Hotels Federation said the industry was “making plans” to support Ukrainian families when they arrived in Ireland and were aware a number of hotels had been approached directly by the government with regards to providing temporary accommodation.
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Meanwhile, the vacant housing will probably include a mix of privately-owned or state-owned sites. Alongside this, local authorities are being asked to “identify potential serviced sites where temporary housing could be erected quickly”.
It is understood that some modular housing companies are already being approached by large development companies with a view to discussing their capacity to deliver housing quickly, with some developers already submitting proposals to the government in recent days.
There are existing provisions within the law which will allow the state to bypass existing planning legislation if necessary to build modular housing to house Ukrainian refugees. The Department of Children will speak with housing officials when they have proposals of where they need to use these provisions.
Sources however, were keen to stress that these plans would not be brought to government for at least another few weeks, with modular homes seen as a medium-term solution. Any such housing provision would probably take between six and nine months to construct, at a minimum.
Separately, the government is expected to announce a new form of vetting for those individuals and families that have offered accommodation to Ukrainians. While an official garda vetting process would probably take too long, government sources said that a new process would be announced by the weekend. Discussions are continuing between the Department of Children, Department of Justice, Tusla and the garda force.
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An Post has recommenced postal services to Ukraine, in cooperation with Ukrposhta, the Ukrainian Postal Service. An Post said it was providing free postage for letters and parcels to Ukraine for all Ukrainians who were living or have recently arrived in Ireland.
The service has also waived all fees for financial donations to charity appeals for Ukraine through the post office, and for all money transfers by Western Union to and from the country.
