Activation of Emergency Bed Facility
On foot of an urgent request from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Cavan County Council is establishing an emergency bed facility at Cavan Leisure Centre, Drumalee, which will provide temporary accommodation for 43 refugees fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.
The emergency bed facility is being activated immediately, with occupants for the temporary beds potentially arriving from this week onwards.
The swimming pool, gym, and outdoor facilities, including astro-turf pitch and bowls green, are unaffected and will remain open to the public, however, Cavan County Council acknowledges that the requisition of part of this facility will cause inconvenience to some users of the leisure centre and thanks the local community for their patience and understanding as every effort is made to assist those fleeing conflict during this humanitarian crisis.
As part of its humanitarian response to welcome people fleeing the war in Ukraine and seeking protection in Ireland as part of the EU response, the Government is providing accommodation through the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS). Ukrainian arrivals seeking accommodation should contact IPAS by email at ipasinbox@equality.gov.ie.
In consultation with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Department of Rural and Community Development, Cavan County Council has established a Community Response Forum to provide a co-ordination point for the community and voluntary response in the county.
Building on structures and relationships which were highly effective during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Community Response Fora will enable all those involved to work together under the stewardship of the local authority. Supplementing the supports and services being provided by government agencies at a local level, their purpose will be to ensure effective communication and information sharing in the coordination of local community and voluntary actions in providing community supports to the new Ukrainian communities.
