Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 July 2022
686. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 111 of 27 April 2022, the gross total spend to date by the International Protection Accommodation Services on privately owned accommodation as part of its response to the crisis in Ukraine. [37729/22]
View answerSince the outbreak of the war in Ukraine on 24 February, and the invoking of the temporary protection Directive by the European Union shortly afterwards, my Department has worked intensively as part of the cross-governmental response to the Ukraine crisis.
The operational challenges brought about by responding to the conflict are significant. Our country has never experienced an influx of displaced persons like the one that we have seen over the past months. My Department’s role is focused on the immediate, short-term accommodation needs of those who have fled here.
To date, more than 40,000 people have arrived in Ireland and just in excess of 30,000 of those have been referred to us seeking accommodation from the State.
Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe for all those who require it remains immensely challenging. Due to the urgent need to source accommodation, a broad range of accommodation types have been contracted, including emergency accommodation. While this is not ideal, the priority is to place people fleeing the conflict in safe and secure accommodation.
Numbers seeking international protection have also increased adding to accommodation capacity issues.
The Ukraine Crisis Temporary Accommodation Team (UCTAT) has contracted approximately 25,000 hotel rooms, with additional capacity also being pursued through different means including hotels, guest houses and B&Bs, accommodation pledged by the general public, religious properties, accommodation operated by voluntary organisations, and local authority facilities.
Total spend in this challenging environment is monitored in line with governance requirements. I can confirm to the Deputy that the amount spent to end June on Emergency Accommodation for refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine is €101.3mn.
