Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1338. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a Ukrainian refugee (details supplied) will be provided with alternative accommodation to allow them to take up employment in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40134/22]
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 41,000 people have arrived in Ireland and in excess of 31,000 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.
In seeking to address immediate accommodation needs, safety and security are the paramount considerations together with the need to find shelter for all those arriving on a daily basis.
The accommodation provided to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine by my Department is temporary in its nature, and given the number of people that are currently being accommodated it is not possible to develop tailored solutions for individuals or families. We understand that people may wish to be accommodated in specific locations for a variety of reasons including employment however given the numbers arriving and the constraints on available accommodation the Department cannot facilitate these requests.
Beneficiaries of temporary protection are entitled to make their own private accommodation arrangements if they wish, and can avail of some supports to do so.
More information on supports available to Ukrainian people while they are in Ireland and information on how people and community groups can help can be found at the Government website: www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/bc537-irelands-response-to-the-situation-in-ukraine/.
