Neale Richmond
Question:96. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports that her Department is providing for Ukrainian refugees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34517/22]
View answerThursday, 14 July 2022
Questions (96)
Written answers
In accordance with the Temporary Protection Directive implemented in March, people fleeing the war in Ukraine have been granted the status to avail of the supports and services, including income supports and employment services, provided by my Department. This means that they can work in Ireland and access social services and the full range of social welfare supports.
As of 11th July, 42,256 Public Personal Service Numbers or PPSNs have been allocated by my Department to people who have arrived in Ireland having fled the war in Ukraine.
Almost 21,270 income support claims have been awarded across various social welfare schemes supporting 37,051 people and 8,822 Child Benefit claims have been processed in respect of some 13,000 children.
My Department’s means tested supplementary Welfare service is also available through the Community Welfare Service in my Department.
A reception facility is operating at City West Convention Centre where officials from the Department of Justice, the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth are available to meet arrivals from Ukraine. This centre is open 7 days a week. People who arrive through Dublin Airport are being transferred to City West.
Anyone who does not arrive through Dublin Airport can call in to my Department’s dedicated City Centre Ukraine Support Centres in Dublin, Cork and Limerick or into local Intreo Centres or Branch Offices where staff will help them to apply for a PPSN and income supports.
Since the middle of April, Intreo Employment Services have been arranging employment support events specifically for Ukrainians to gather information on their education and skills and to provide information on vacancies and jobs as well as income and training supports they may be entitled to. To date Intreo Employment Services staff have engaged with over 12,000 Ukrainians at these events.
The Department is also working closely with education and training boards to facilitate access to relevant training supports, including English language training.