Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 March 2022
297. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if persons that are recently Garda vetted could be offered the roles that are currently required to assist in the aid and reception of Ukrainian persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15734/22]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the Government has worked with the Red Cross on the logistics to put in place a national pledge. The website has been launched and is available online through registerofpledges.redcross.ie. There has already been a remarkable response by the public – already there have been over 20,000 pledges received.
The Department is working closely with An Garda Síochána, the Department of Justice, Tusla and the Irish Red Cross on arrangements for vetting. Persons offering rooms in their houses to Ukrainian refugees will be vetted so as to ensure the safety of all, particularly as many of the refugees are children.
Those who have been vetted are free to offer support to Ukrainian refugees, either in the form of accommodation through the national pledge, or through community initiatives. Those wishing to provide such support to refugees should contact the Community Fora in their counties as these are the mechanisms which are coordinating community initiatives in each county.
