Skibbereen care home may house Ukrainian families

A FORMER nursing home at Church Cross near Skibbereen has been purchased by Tedkore, a company owned by local businessman Denny Collins.

The former publican and landlord-turned-property developer was recently persuaded by International Protection Accommodation Services (Ipas) to adapt his Main Street premises in Skibbereen town for Ukrainians, and now he is considering converting the old nursing home for a small group of refugees.

'We only bought it a week ago' said Denny, 'so our plans are still up in the air. Although the nursing home hasn't been used for the last 20 years, it is in good condition, but it will still need to be brought up to Ipas standards.'

The property developer has yet to apply for planning permission, which could take a year or more to finalise, and he confirmed that they are considering creating six or eight wheelchair-accessible units, which could be used to reunify displaced families.

'We will have to draw up plans to see how best we could convert what is essentially a disused building, into a centre that would be fully equipped to meet the catering and accommodation needs of a small group of people displaced by the war in Ukraine,' said Denny.