About a dozen Ukrainians protested outside Leinster House on Wednesday, saying they face removal from accommodation in Citywest, Dublin, despite concerns about healthcare, schooling and mobility. The residents were told during the summer to leave their hotel accommodation by Friday and accept offers elsewhere or find housing independently.
What happened in Dublin?
The protest took place as the Dáil returned after its summer recess. Those attending said proposed moves would take them away from the schools, hospitals, general practitioners and support networks they currently rely on.
Letters sent to Citywest residents in June and July stated that they would be transferred to alternative accommodation. Locations mentioned included Kill or Punchestown in Co Kildare, Co Offaly and Dundalk in Co Louth.
Residents who did not accept the proposed locations were told they would need to secure accommodation themselves. The reported deadline for leaving Citywest is Friday.
- About a dozen Ukrainian adults joined the protest.
- The residents are beneficiaries of temporary protection.
- They were instructed to leave Citywest accommodation by Friday.
- Some protesters cited chronic illness, disability, hospital appointments and children’s schooling.
Why the accommodation move matters
People affected by the decision say relocation is not simply a change of address. For families and adults with medical needs, moving away from established services could create immediate practical difficulties.
Some residents have children attending local schools. Others depend on particular hospitals and GPs in Dublin. Protesters said that moving them to locations many kilometres away could interrupt education, treatment and daily care arrangements.
Under the temporary protection system, Ukrainians displaced by Russia’s war are not entitled to social housing or emergency homeless accommodation in the same way as people covered by Ireland’s standard housing-support pathways. That leaves some residents facing a narrow set of options when State-provided accommodation ends.
Family fears disruption to schooling
Svetlana Koval, who has lived at Citywest for almost three years with her mother and 10-year-old daughter, said the family had been searching for a home since March.
She said her daughter had already missed a year of school in Ukraine but was now settled in a local national school, where she had made friends and was progressing. Koval said she was worried that another forced move could cause further emotional distress and disrupt her education.
She also said her mother needs to remain close to a specific Dublin hospital. The family’s concerns reflect the wider challenge facing displaced people who have developed local healthcare, education and community links during several years in Ireland.
Man with mobility difficulties fears homelessness
Denys Hieniievskyi, aged 35, currently lives with an Irish host family. He said the family expects to need his room in November when their daughter returns, leaving him uncertain about where he will go next.
Hieniievskyi uses crutches and said damaged joints make it difficult for him to walk long distances. He wants to remain near the hospital and GP services he attends.
He also expressed concern about the future of the accommodation recognition payment, known as the ARP, which supports Irish households hosting people from Ukraine. He described the situation as highly stressful and said he was struggling to sleep.
Temporary protection and Ireland’s housing pressure
Ireland’s response to the war in Ukraine has relied heavily on hotels, communal accommodation and private hosts. As accommodation contracts change or end, the State has been moving residents to other available sites.
That approach can provide short-term capacity, but it may also separate people from employment, schools, medical services and family contacts. The impact is particularly significant for residents with disabilities, chronic illnesses or children in settled education.
At the same time, Ireland’s wider housing shortage makes it difficult for people to secure private rental homes. Ukrainian residents who cannot access social housing or emergency homelessness services may face substantial barriers, including high rents, limited supply and the need to find suitable accommodation quickly.
The dispute connects temporary protection, Ireland housing policy, healthcare access, school continuity and the availability of emergency accommodation. Any decision affecting Citywest residents may have implications for other Ukrainian households whose accommodation arrangements are also changing.
What happens next?
The immediate issue is the Friday deadline given to residents at Citywest. Those affected are seeking alternatives that would allow them to remain close to essential services, while the Department responsible for accommodation has been approached for comment.
Several questions remain open:
- Whether individual medical, disability or schooling circumstances will be reviewed before residents are moved.
- What support will be available to people who cannot accept the proposed locations.
- Whether families facing homelessness will receive any additional accommodation assistance.
- How the State will manage future changes to temporary protection accommodation.
Until further information is provided, the position remains developing. Residents are expected to continue pressing for case-by-case solutions rather than a uniform relocation process.
Frequently asked questions
Who protested outside Leinster House?
About a dozen Ukrainian adults, including people who said they have caring responsibilities, chronic illnesses or mobility difficulties, took part in the protest.
Where are the residents being moved from?
They are currently staying in hotel accommodation at Citywest in Dublin.
Which alternative locations were identified?
Letters referred to possible accommodation in Kill or Punchestown in Co Kildare, Co Offaly and Dundalk in Co Louth.
Why are residents opposing the move?
They say the proposed locations are far from their schools, hospitals, GPs and established support networks.
What is the deadline?
Residents were told to leave Citywest by Friday, although the situation may develop as authorities respond to their concerns.
Why this story matters
The protest highlights the difficult transition facing Ukrainians who have built lives in Ireland while relying on temporary State accommodation. For residents with children, disabilities or ongoing medical needs, relocation can affect far more than housing.
The immediate focus is on whether suitable alternatives can be found before the Citywest deadline. More broadly, the dispute raises questions about how Ireland can move from emergency accommodation to stable, accessible housing without leaving vulnerable people at risk.
This Breaking News Ireland story remains developing, with residents awaiting further clarity on their accommodation and the Government’s response.
