Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2022
17. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures that her Department is taking to support Ukrainians arriving in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14761/22]
View answerPeople arriving from Ukraine have been granted the status to avail of income supports from the Department of Social Protection under the EU Temporary Protection Directive.
A reception centre has been set up in Dublin Airport where officials from my Department and from the Department of Justice are available to meet people fleeing the war in Ukraine. They will be given correspondence by the Department of Justice confirming that they have been granted Temporary Protection and are permitted to reside in Ireland for a period of 1 year, a period which may be extended.
They will be eligible for financial support initially under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme. Under the Temporary Protection Directive, Ukrainian citizens and others fleeing the war will be deemed to satisfy the Habitual Residence Condition, or HRC, and the relevant means test.
My Department has also established a number of additional dedicated centres in Dublin and Cork cities and intends to open a further centre in Limerick this week. Community Welfare Officers and Interpreters are available at all of these centres. Department staff are also meeting people arriving on the ferry at Rosslare port and are reaching out to visit people accommodated in hotels provided by the Department of Children, Disability, Equality and Integration.
A fast-track approach has been put in place which includes quick processing of PPSNs and a simplified decision-making process for applications for supplementary welfare allowance. The aim is to process applications as quickly and efficiently as possible to provide immediate financial assistance to these people. My Department will also arrange for payments such as child benefit to be made within a very short period.
Interpretation services are available at the reception centre in Dublin Airport and are also available by phone if required to assist Ukrainian citizens to access my Department’s services.
