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International Protection

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022

Tuesday, 26 July 2022

Questions (1371, 1372)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

1371. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied) in respect of a recent International Protection Accommodation Services policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40725/22]

View answer

Gerald Nash

Question:

1372. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider a policy matter (details supplied) within the remit of International Protection Accommodation Services which has been raised by an accommodation provider; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40744/22]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1371 and 1372 together.

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, with a focus on the immediate, short-term accommodation needs of those who have fled Ukraine. The scale of this operational challenge is unprecedented: to date, more than 42,000 people have arrived in Ireland and just in excess of 31,000 of those have been referred to my Department seeking accommodation from the State. Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe for all those who require it remains immensely challenging. The Absences protocol agreed on 06 July, seeks to manage necessary absences from short-term accommodation in a way that is fair to all individuals seeking State assistance, including those most recently arrived and in need of accommodation.

Prior to the adoption of the protocol, my Department had communicated that it had not been possible to guarantee that vacated accommodation funded by the State would be held, except where extenuating circumstances may have applied e.g. a hospital stay. The provisions of the protocol aim to facilitate one short-term absence (7 calendar days) over a 6-month period. Given the ongoing high demand on accommodation, it is not possible to facilitate any absences beyond that timeframe. The protocol will remain under review.

Question No. 1372 answered with Question No. 1371.
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