The Mayor of Waterford has admitted the local Council is overwhelmed when it comes to finding accommodation for both Ukrainian refugees and locals alike.

It comes as 4,000 Ukrainian refugees are expected to come to Waterford.

It’s understood Gracedieu Manor on the Waterford-Tramore road is also now going to be used to house a number of refugees.

Up to 30 people are expected to be accommodated there.

Mayor Joe Kelly says the Council is trying to meet demands, with further temporary accommodation:

“The council, as best we can, are stepping up to the challenge in terms of the Ukrainian situation.

“People are coming in desperate need. All of the available properties at the minute have been taken up.

“Now, there is a government move to maybe free-up holiday homes that will take significant numbers and there are maybe 8,000-10,000 nationally – and there will be a group of houses in Waterford in that category.

“We’ve also opened the Sports Centre in Dungarvan where people are being accommodated now in effectively camp beds and it’s the same in Carrickpherish.”

Mayor Kelly is also looking for the process by which people are approved to take refugees into their own homes to be sped up.

He says that while they’re doing their best to use public buildings, like the community hall in Carrickpherish, more needs to be done:

“What’s really needed are the pledges that have been made by people through the Red Cross – the thousands of people who have offered their homes – that’s going to have to come online I think quicker than it currently is.

“There’s a vetting process that’s very, very slow and to deal with the unfolding situation, in fact, it’s too slow.

“Significant resources are going to have to be put into that.”