Former convent in Offaly awaiting arrival of 84 Ukrainian refugees
IT'S been revealed this week that 84 refugees are due to arrive at the former La Sainte Union Convent in Banagher.
In a statement, Deputy Carol Nolan said the Acting Director of Services at the Housing and Ukrainian Response section of Offaly County Council had confirmed to her that the newly refurbished main building to the front of La Sainte Union is currently awaiting the arrival of an additional 84 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOPTs) from Ukraine under phase 2 of its accommodation contract.
The Council also confirmed to Deputy Nolan that the Convent in Banagher had a capacity under Phase 1 for 22 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection fleeing the war in Ukraine and has been occupied since October 2023.
The council said that the owner had received their contract from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The council also stated, in reply to the Independent TD, that it would issue a briefing note on the situation shortly.
“I have a number of Banagher residents coming to my offices looking for absolute certainty about the future of the Convent, and that is why I made representations on this matter,” said Deputy Nolan.
“It is a very trying time for many people, including those within surrounding areas who feel powerless about what is happening to buildings in their localities. They worry about who precisely will be accommodated and when the support services will be in place to back up the increase in population levels.
“I want to reassure all of those people that I will continue to advocate on their behalf and try my best to assist them in obtaining factual information with respect to what exactly is happening in their towns and villages.”
La Sainte Union closed as a school in 2010 when the school amalgamated with St Rynagh's Community College and transferred to the new Banagher College Coláiste na Sionna.
The LSU building was owned by LOETB (Laois Offaly Education Training Board) until 2021. After it ceased being a school the LOETB wanted to completely knock the building and put car parking in its stead. However, they were prevented from doing so because the building is deemed to be architecturally significant.
It's believed that the building sold for €160,000 in 2021, a figure which, at the time, was deemed by the Auctioneer to be “a very good offer considering the condition of the building.”
In August 2023 it was stated that one hundred people fleeing the war in Ukraine were to be accommodated in the former convent building and would probably arrive in November.
LSU is in private ownership, and improvement works took place during 2023 to prepare for the refugees.