It’s expected that between 3,500 and 4,000 refugees fleeing from Ukraine will arrive in Waterford.
Waterford Council confirmed this at the March meeting of the Metropolitan District of the local authority last night.
At present, there are currently 187 Ukrainian refugees living in hotel accommodation in the county.
Senior Executive Officer for Housing with Waterford Council, Claire Hartley, says there has been a multi-agency response to the crisis resulting from the Russian invasion last month.
“There could be between 3,500 to 4,000 Ukrainians in Waterford alone. We are meeting internally and on a multi-agency basis with community groups on an almost daily basis at this stage.”
Ms. Hartley noted that a further influx is expected on Friday, and that the Department of Social Protection have been liaising with local arrivals.
“The DSP staff have been meeting with and visiting anyone who has arrived here. They have been issuing people with PPSN numbers within 48 hours of arrival here. The response is pretty good. We have about 187 individuals in Waterford so far who are currently in hotel accommodation, and so far, they’ve all been issued with PPS numbers. The DSP following up again today and tomorrow on providing PPS numbers to those who arrive on Friday.”
150 refugees are expected to arrive into Rosslare Port on Thursday. Many of those already in Waterford arrived via the Wexford port.
Wexford Independent TD Verona Murphy says those arriving on Thursday should receive their documentation upon arrival.
“There will be a marquee set up in the port area itself, where that will be the holding waiting area where everybody can be processed. From there, the migrant refugees will be then taken to their accommodation without having to criss-cross from building to building. They’ll be given PPS numbers, letters of comfort, allowing them to work, access medical services and all of that - from one area in the port.”
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