A NUMBER of sporting venues in the country could be used as a temporary accommodation for Ukrainian refugees say The Department of Sport.
It has been reported by RTE that the IRFU, GAA and Sport Ireland have been contacted by the department to see if space is available as the government struggle to find suitable places for Ukrainian refugees.
The Government is coming under increasing pressure as around 3,500 Ukrainians living in student accommodation will have to move out over the coming weeks as students return to college.
It is understood refugees are being asked to take up pledges of accommodation with almost 3,000 people now accommodated this way.
According to the same report the refugees housed on camp beds in the Aviva Stadium in Dublin will now be moved to more adequate accommodations.
Croke Park will not be used as a venue.
The Department of Sport has confirmed that it has been contacting sporting bodies to see if there are any sporting venues available to house Ukrainian refugees on a short-term basis. | More: https://t.co/3Ef3YGHCmB pic.twitter.com/oWlGH0ih07 — RTÉ News (@rtenews) July 31, 2022
The Department of Sport are quoted as saying: "The organisations responded positively to the request and any accommodation offers arising were the subject of direct engagement by the department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth with the sports organisations."
Over 43,000 Ukrainian people have arrived in Ireland so far and it is estimated that there could be around 50,000 in Ireland by the middle of August as the war in their country drags on.
The Irish Red Cross continues to operate a special register site for those who can offer empty homes, rooms or other accommodation for refugees from Ukraine and elsewhere and you can find that here.
