A protest will take place on Saturday afternoon against a Government proposal to build 30 modular homes for Ukrainian refugees in the “overpopulated” town of Newbridge.

Amid the worst housing crisis in the history of the state, the Government has struggled to find appropriate homes for the tens of thousands of Ukrainians who have arrived since their country was invaded. 

One solution is to build modular homes for them and a green area in the County Kildare has been earmarked as an appropriate site. 

2HWXR2J 07.03.2022, Berlin, Germany, Europe - Place of refuge for war refugees from the Ukraine after their arrival at Berlin Central Station.

However, some local residents have reacted with horror and want the proposal binned: 

“We the people feel the Government has lied to us and not taken our concerns seriously,” organiser Noreen O'Shea complained to Newstalk. 

“And we’re asking every man, woman and child to come and stand with us and show the Government we’re completely opposed to modular homes. 

“Our town is overpopulated, our amenities are overstretched and we have proved our green is a floodplain. 

“So please come and support us tomorrow.” 

However, the modular homes also have local support as well and organisers have previously been accused of racism by some of their neighbours: 

“It is not against Ukrainians because if Irish people were getting them we’d still [be protesting]. This estate is not equipped to deal with 30 more homes,” one campaigner insisted. 

“This town is already overrun with people, it’s overpopulated. So how do they think they can just come and place more houses without adding more facilities for these people?”

Main image: Ukrainian refugees on Lviv railway station waiting for train to escape to Europe. Picture by: Alamy.com