Clara facility to house more than 80 people from Ukraine
A former boarding school in Clara is expected to accommodate more than 80 people from Ukraine, beginning in the early months of 2024.
The long-disused St Anthony's boarding school at Inchmore House in Kilcoursey, Clara, was offered as accommodation to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
Work has been taking place at the site in recent months in preparation for its new use.
In response to a query from the Offaly Independent, a Department spokesperson said that the former boarding school at Inchmore House was "currently undergoing refurbishment as part of the Emergency Refurbishment (Ukraine) Project overseen by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage."
The spokesperson went on to say that the facility was expected have capacity for approximately 88 residents, and that it should be ready for use inside the first three months of next year.
"The property has been offered to provide accommodation for people fleeing the war in Ukraine.
"The initial capacity will be approximately 88, subject to confirmation, and is expected to be ready in Q1 2024."
The Department previously stated that a listed building at Inchmore House was "not currently part of" the accommodation proposal.
In recent weeks, groups of 20 to 30 people held demonstrations outside the St Anthony's facility. Photos of these gatherings showed some people with signs saying 'Clara Says No' while others held signs saying they wanted 'answers' about what was being planned.
A statement from local councillor Sandy Feehan Smollen, a fortnight ago, said there had been "rumours and innuendo flying about" in relation to Inchmore House, and she said local people were angry at "not being kept up to date" with developments there.
Inchmore House was built in 1846. It was bought by the Franciscan order in the 1930s and dormitories were added as the St Anthony's boarding school began operating there.
It's understood that the school closed in 1990 and that buildings on the site had fallen into a poor state of disrepair in more recent years.