My Department is focused on providing emergency accommodation to people fleeing Ukraine where requested. Almost 10,000 people have been provided with accommodation by IPAS to date.
IPAS has contracted over 5,000 hotel rooms, with additional capacity also being pursued through hotels, guest houses and B&Bs, accommodation pledged by the general public, religious properties, and local authority facilities.
More than 20,000 people have also pledged accommodation through the Irish Red Cross. My Department has begun to utilise this accommodation, focusing initially on vacant homes and this process will continue.
My Department is working closely with the local authorities on present accommodation needs. Longer term accommodation needs require input for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and these discussions are taking place.
Engagement is also taking place with officials in other Government Departments including the Department of Education of provision of services to those fleeing Ukraine.
Work is underway in my Department to develop data system that will track accommodation being provided by IPAS. Discussions are also taking place across Government on a data solution that will map locations of those fleeing Ukraine to services including schools.
