I propose to take Questions Nos. 484 and 485 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 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 50,000 people have arrived in Ireland and in excess of 39,000 of those have been referred to this 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. Due to the urgent need to source accommodation, a broad range of accommodation types have been contracted.
The priority is to place people fleeing the conflict in safe and secure accommodation.
The Government is committed to delivering a humanitarian response to welcome people seeking protection in Ireland as part of the European Union's overall response. The scale of response to this crisis has been unprecedented and Irish people have displayed an incredible level of generosity in their support and pledges of accommodation.
My officials advise me that an onsite review of the centre detailed by the Deputy was carried out on 28 June 2022 in order to investigate some concerns which had been raised.
I cam further advised that there are
154 residents currently accommodated at the centre detailed by the Deputy. Of these, 105 are accommodated on a long-term basis and 49 are accommodated on a short-term emergency basis.
The 105 longer-term residents are accommodated in 78 bedrooms, each room with an ensuite bathroom with toilet, shower and wash hand basin.
Occupancy in those rooms is as follows:
Rooms with 1 resident 50 (50 residents)
Rooms with 2 residents 19 (28 residents)
Rooms with 3 residents 9 (27 residents)
In rooms with two or more residents, there are either family or friends who arrived together. In rooms with three residents, they are family units. No person under 18 is permitted to sleep in a room without their parent or legal guardian.
In addition to the above, a wing of this centre is used for temporary emergency accommodation with a capacity of 50 and a current occupancy of 49. The configuration of this section is in a dormitory set up and it is not intended for longer stays.
A shower block unit adjacent to the building is for the exclusive use of the up to 50 residents availing of this temporary accommodation. It contains five private showers and changing areas. There is also access within the building specifically for residents of this wing to the following number of toilets, sinks and urinals:
Toilets 22
Sinks 22
Urinals 5
Showers 5 (as per the unit mentioned above)
I can advise the Deputy as follows regarding medical services. The centre’s Facilities Management service, which is contracted by my Department, notifies the relevant state bodies about our residents and their requirements and facilitates bodies such as the HSE to access the residents and to have them assessed and treated as is required. In the process, the Facilities Management Service assists with the following:
1. Obtaining medical cards & medical card applications for newer residents;
2. Assignment to a GP;
3. Notifying the HSE as to the residents and facilitating their frequent visits on site.
The HSE is notified in the event that a resident is in crisis or unwell.
All of the 105 long-term residents have obtained medical cards and that all newer or temporary residents have completed their applications for medical cards.
With regard to education requirements of residents, the Facilities Management service engages with the Department of Education. In addition, the following facilities are on site to assist the residents:
1. English classes six days per week which are supported by the CDETB. These classes cater for all levels of English.
2. The centre management assist in the registering of children in schools.
3. The centre management facilitate the CDETB Youth Liaison officer in entering young adults into suitable courses.
I can confirm to the Deputy that there is a catering service on site provided by a professional catering company. The catering company provides three meals per day (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and there are ad hoc snacks and teas and coffees available throughout the day. There is no restriction on “seconds” and school lunch options are also in place.
I trust this information is of assistance.
