Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 November 2022
741. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of tourism accommodation bedrooms that have been taken up, both nationally and per county, with Government contracts for Ukrainian refugees and other asylum seekers; the percentage of overall availability which this represents nationally and per county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55320/22]
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 45,000 of those arriving in Ireland have been referred to us seeking accommodation from the State. My Department has contracted in excess of 34,000 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 550 settings including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings.
Regarding the matter raised, I can advise the Deputy that my Department’s analysis as of 18th October suggests that currently contracted accommodation, including both our contracts for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) and International Protection Applicants (IPs) equates to approximately 22% of all tourist accommodation across all counties When Dublin is excluded, the average is approximately 26%.
