Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1307. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is giving consideration to the proposals from Ukraine Civil Society Emergency Response (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41700/22]
View answerIreland is resolute in our solidarity and support for Ukraine and we are honouring our commitment to help people who have been displaced by this horrendous war.
We are working with our European and international partners to help the Ukrainian people.
Government, civil and public servants, as well as volunteers across the country, are working hard to manage this humanitarian crisis by providing the necessary supports for those who are seeking shelter and other services.
In accordance with the Temporary Protection Directive implemented in March of this year, 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.
The priority for my Department is to make payments as quickly as possible and to put arrangements in place to pay the most appropriate social welfare to people arriving from Ukraine. A fast-track approach in processing these supports is in place which includes a simplified decision-making process and quick processing of PPSNs to allow access to public services.
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.
As of 21 July, 45,688 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 22,423 income support claims have been awarded across various social welfare schemes supporting 38,823 people and 9,358 Child Benefit claims have been processed in respect of some 13,800 children.
People may also apply for additional financial supports under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme which is available through the Community Welfare Service at their local Intreo office. Supports available include Additional Needs Payments and Rent Supplement, if appropriate.
Rent Supplement, which is a means-tested payment, is immediately available to qualifying people living in private rented accommodation who cannot provide for the cost of their accommodation from their own resources. A number of the qualifying conditions have been relaxed for people covered by the Temporary Protection Directive.
A Recognition Payment of €400 a month per shared or vacant property will be made to people who provide accommodation for those fleeing the war in Ukraine. My Department is administering the payment on behalf of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The scheme is open to new applications from today following the commencement of the underlying legislation which was contained in the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022.
A dedicated section, available in Ukrainian and Russian, on www.jobsireland.ie has been developed to provide information on employment opportunities for newly arrived Ukrainians.
Intreo staff from my department also attend information events organised by Education and Training Boards, Local Development Companies and Chambers of Commerce at which they provide information on the full range of income and employment support services.
Since mid-April, the Department of Social Protection has organised employment support engagement events for people fleeing the war to gather information on their education and skills and to provide information on vacancies and jobs. These ongoing events are taking place in locations throughout the country in accommodation centres and in Intreo Offices.
To date, Intreo Employment Services staff have engaged with over 12,000 Ukrainians at these events.
My Department is also working closely with education and training boards to facilitate access to relevant training supports, including English language training.
I can assure the Deputy that the provision of income and other supports is a priority for my Department. We will continue to support the whole of Government response to this crisis.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
