I take note of the recommendations made in the submission which has been shared with those in my Department working on the Ukraine response team. I would like to take this opportunity to pay warm tribute to the efforts of many across civil society who are working hard to support refugees arriving to the State.
Since 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 42,000 people have arrived in Ireland and just in excess of 31,000 of those have been referred to us seeking accommodation from the State. The number of people seeking international protection has also increased adding to accommodation capacity issues.
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.
I am pleased to confirm that final steps are underway to roll out the €400 Recognition Payment for people who provide accommodation to those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. The scheme, agreed by Government in May, will take the form of a monthly flat rate payment of €400 per property (shared or vacant, pledged through Irish Red Cross or privately). The Department of Social Protection will administer the payment on behalf of my Department. Applicants will apply to the Department of Social Protection to receive the payment and the payment will be conditional on a minimum time commitment for hosting (6 months), with payments continuing for hosting arrangements beyond this timeframe.
