Contracts for housing Ukrainian refugees in Offaly worth over €1.2 million
Official figures have shown that deals worth more than €1.2 million in total were signed last year for contractors to provide accommodation and ancillary services in Offaly to people fleeing the war in Ukraine.
According to details on the State's eTenders website, one facility, Lynch's Townhouse in Tullamore, entered into two contracts with the State to provide accommodation and ancillary services to Ukrainian people last year.
The first contract for the service at Lynch's was signed in April of last year and had a value of €447,720, while a second contract commenced there in October and carried a value of €460,224.
Elsewhere in the county, Brian and Dympna O'Carroll of the Ely House B&B in Shannonbridge entered into a €205,625 Ukrainian contract on October 24 last. In Moneygall, meanwhile, a €181,170 contract for Loughton House was agreed with Tralo Limited last May.
Over the Laois border, in Mountmellick, contracts worth €131,040 and €181,170 were agreed for accommodation and ancillary services at The Clock Inn and The Forum last April and July respectively.
One of the largest Ukrainian accommodation contracts in the State during the latter part of 2022 was a €6.6 million deal agreed with Bower Hall Services Ltd for accommodation provided at the former Our Lady's Bower convent in Athlone.
The value of the above contracts included catering services, cleaning, laundry facilities and security services.
The Irish Examiner this week reported that the State has so far paid €676 million to hotels, B&Bs, and private providers to accommodate Ukrainians fleeing conflict.
A spokesperson for the Department of Integration told the Irish Examiner that the values of the contracts provided were estimates, and that the actual amounts paid to providers depended on occupancy and usage.
Figures for any other contracts awarded to companies providing accommodation to Ukrainian people in Offaly were not available at the time of writing. Details of the length of the contracts were also unavailable.
Almost 14 months after the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, the most recent figures available showed that just under 80,000 Ukrainian people were now living in Ireland.