Backlash over plan to house Ukrainians in former Limerick school

PARENTS of pupils at a city national school are considering taking legal action to prevent Ukrainian refugees from moving into a building on the same site.

The former Salesian School at Fernbank, just off North Circular Road, is to be used as a temporary accommodation centre for people fleeing the war in Ukraine.

Up to 251 refugees are set to share 19 of the classrooms at the former secondary school building. But a number of parents with children at the neighbouring Salesian Primary School, which has 420 students, have pledged to do “everything we can” to halt this.

A group of 60 parents - many of whom are non-nationals themselves - have come together to seek ways to stop the old school being used, on the basis of concerns about the conditions refugees will face in the school, in terms of the size of the old classrooms.

They are being supported by local councillor Frankie Daly, who said: “Putting 251 people in 19 rooms will lead to extremely overcrowded conditions and exacerbate any issues which may arise - which is inhumane to these proposed residents.”

Dee Lawlor, who has a six-year-old boy in the primary school, said the plan goes against the guidelines for temporary accommodation for people fleeing war, with potentially up to 14 people to a room.

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, which is the contracting authority, had not returned a request for comment as the Leader went to press last night.

However, it’s understood their position is the accommodation will satisfy emergency accommodation standards, and will be compliant with building control laws.

Ms Lawlor, from Caherdavin, said: "This should not be heard as a 'not on my doorstep' complaint. If this allocation was happening in as close proximity to my home, I would not have any objection. The allocation of hundreds of people who have fled an ongoing, violent war into a condensed area within metres of a primary school is absolutely unacceptable,” she added.

Another parent Derek O'Brien from Coonagh said: "We'll have to go down that road,” when asked about legal action.

“We don't know what to do anymore because we are being met with a lot of hostility in the sense of being branded far right and racist," he added.

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Concerns were also raised over shared access, with the group pointing out the emergency services might struggle to access the premises at pick-up and drop-off times during the school day.

Security and other on-site personnel, plus CCTV is being provided once its occupants arrive, while there will be new public lighting and improvements to the existing signage.

As a group, the parents have pointed out there are 431 vacant homes across Limerick city and county and suggested these could be more suitable to house refugees.

Although the plans to use the old Salesian Secondary were announced prior to Christmas, no-one has moved in yet.

That's because works are ongoing to ensure emergency accommodation standards are met.

It's understood a date of late February is being looked at for the former school to welcome its new residents.

The government department will accommodate new arrivals to Ireland upon their entry into the State.

It's understood regular talks will take place with the gardai in relation to the centre, and that before deciding on the use of the Salesian School, a number of other options were considered.

The old Salesian School as a building has been out of use since last September. The secondary school closed in 2016, and in recent years, it was home to the newly-established Limerick Educate Together secondary school.

Since September it has been vacant after staff and students there moved into new-build accommodation at Ballysimon Road.

The fact the building is now vacant, and its proximity to the city centre, is understood to be what secured its use as a base for Ukrainian refugees.