An “exit strategy” is being sought for County Clare with regard to the use of tourist accommodation for Ukrainian refugees and International Protection Applicants.
This week’s meeting of Clare County Council has heard several councillors request a “clear plan and timeline” for the return of tourist beds to the tourism market, as well a “recovery and investment plan” for areas where businesses have suffered due to beds being taken out of the market.
Tabled by Lisdoonvarna Fine Gael Councillor Joe Garrihy, Doonbeg Fianna Fáil Councillor Rita McInerney, Ennistymon Fianna Fáil Councillor Shane Talty and Sixmilebridge Fine Gael Councillor John Crowe, the motion was framed as critical for the survival of Clare’s tourism economy.
The four councillors had two main asks, one of which was that Integration Minister Roderick O’Gorman instruct his department and IPAS to “set a clear plan and timeline that will return hotels and tourist accomodations that have been used in Clare to house refugees through an emergency period to the tourist market”.
In addition, the motion called on Tourism Minister Catherine Martin, along with Clare Tourism to “ensure a recovery and investment plan aligns” so the most affected areas and businesses are “supported in the transition phase”.
Councillor Garrihy insists Minister O’Gorman must take swift action for the benefit of everyone in this county.
A Fáilte Ireland report on Government-contracted bed stock published in May found that at 25%, Clare is the only county with more than 20% of its registered hospitality bed capacity out of use for tourism.
There are currently 5,418 Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection, or BOTPs, residing here, which is down 127 fron the previous month.
Of these, 1,953 are accommodated in 30 “multi-occupancy facilities” throughout the county.
In terms of International Protection Applicants, the last year has seen the number in Clare soar by 47% to 1,011, with many living in facilities previously designated as tourist accommodation.
Responding to calls for the local authority to take stronger action, Clare County Council Chief Executive Pat Dowling says it has “no direct role” in refugee accommodation.
The meeting heard that North Clare communities such as Lisdoonvarna and Ballyvaughan have been put under particular pressure in recent years and that while they’ve extended a warm “céad míle fáilte”, there’s only so much they can be expected to do.
Figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the Ennistymon region, which encompasses most of North Clare, has the highest proportion of Ukrainian refugees of any Local Electoral Area in the country at over 12%.
Councillor Rita McInerney believes it’s also important that the welfare of those living in hotels and B&Bs is taken into account.
