Kildare Ukrainian camp closes after a year
The camp site at Flood's Cross, just outside of Naas.
AFTER less than a year, the temporary accommodation centre at Flood’s Cross on the Rathangan road outside of Naas is to close in a fortnight.
Designed to take up nearly 1,000 Ukrainian refugees, its opening in early March 2024 saw protestors picket the site, but they “de-escalated” after a number of them were brought to the High Court on the back of a restraining order.
In fact, when the visited the site on 8 March there were only three protestors on site – and one of those was a schoolchild.
The project was managed by Pastures New Ltd, the company associated with the creation of tented-type accommodation for Ukrainians at Stradbally, County Laois, in the wake of the Electric Picnic concert event in 2023.
The firm had been contracted by the state to provide 985 beds in 387 cabins. In addition, the contract included provision of a dining marquee, laundry and recreation facilities at the site.
Ukrainians are described as ‘Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection’ who differ from asylum seekers originating elsewhere and who come to Ireland seeking temporary refugee status.
The contract associated with setting up the centre was to last for a year, but will now be closed from 2 March.
