Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 May 2022
91. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if families in local authority homes will be allowed to host Ukrainian families and not be in breach of their tenancy agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15029/22]
View answerThe Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is responsible for meeting the immediate and short-term accommodation needs of persons arriving in Ireland from the conflict in Ukraine. As part of a whole-of-government response, DCEDIY, in close cooperation with local government, is securing accommodation for arrivals through:
- hotels, guest houses and B&Bs;
- accommodation pledged by the general public, which is being assessed for suitability;
- State-owned or private properties, which may be suitable for short-term accommodation;
- religious properties; and
- local authority community facilities.
Government is working to ensure local capacity, resources and knowledge are brought to bear on the overall humanitarian response. In this regard, my Department has recently written to local authorities requesting they take the necessary steps to allow social housing tenants, who wish to do so, participate in the Irish Red Cross pledge scheme.
