Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 March 2022
103. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on the work being carried out to mobilise student accommodation for housing Ukrainian refugees during the summer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17108/22]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that finding accommodation for the numbers of people displaced by the war in Ukraine who are expected to come to Ireland over the coming months is challenging and all of Government is working to ensure that the refugees, many of whom are traumatized, have immediate access to basic needs such as food and shelter.
The Government response to the crisis in Ukraine has been generous and in line with the International Displaced Persons Act 2015, displaced persons fleeing from the war are entitled to access to education, the labour market and health care on the same basis as a resident Irish or EU citizen.
My officials are continuing to engage with the Irish Universities Association (IUA) in relation to the possible use of student accommodation to meet an anticipated surge of displaced persons from Ukraine arriving during the summer months.
The IUA have identified 1000 potential bed spaces in student accommodation, and this information has been shared with the Department of Children, Equality Disability, Integration and Youth.
My officials will continue to work on identifying and securing any additional potential accommodation which may be available in the sector.
