Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 March 2023
950. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide details of all accomodation schemes in existence to house Ukrainian refugees and asyslum seekers; the particular schemes that local authorities are involved in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13173/23]
View answerIreland has responded to the largest displacement of people on the European continent since the Second World War. Since February 2022, my Department has worked to accommodate an unprecedented volume of persons seeking refuge from the invasion of Ukraine, with over 77,000 people arriving in Ireland, of which 57,000 have sought accommodation from this Department.
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, the Department has contracted in excess of 43,000 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 750 settings including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings.
The priority is to place people fleeing the war in safe and secure accommodation.
My Department allocates accommodation to those persons granted temporary of protection status at the Citywest Transit Hub. Accommodation is allocated based on availability at any given point in time. In addition, beneficiaries of temporary protection may also and have availed of pledged accommodation offers. To date, more than 6,900 beneficiaries have been accommodated in over 2,900 pledged properties.
In response to requests from my Department, Local Authorities nationwide stand up emergency accommodation to assist at peak times. This involves my Department providing 24 hours’ notice of the number of beds required and the length of time they are required. Local Authorities can provide up to 75 beds in one location in a variety of sites. These can include for example local parish centres, community centres or school halls. Local volunteers are onsite to provide supports. It is accepted that persons provided with such accommodation will remain there for as short a time as possible. In some instances, the Local Authorities find accommodation solutions at a local level also.
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) is supporting the whole of government response to the war in Ukraine and has taken responsibility for some elements, in order to provide support and assistance to DCEDIY as it continues to lead the initial humanitarian response, including the provision of accommodation and related supports.
One of these measures includes the call for unoccupied homes, which is being led by local authorities, with oversight from the DHLGH. Furthermore the DHLGH has taken responsibility for the refurbishment programme, which aims to bring multi-occupancy buildings that are vacant back into use as accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Accommodation from Ukraine. This programme now includes properties which are refurbished through “self-funding” by private owners and those properties which require Capital input from the DHLGH to bring the project to the required standard. DHLGH liaises closely with the Local Authority Sector who play an integral role in respect of both streams.
My Department will continue to work with accommodation providers to ensure there is an adequate supply of accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection fleeing the war in Ukraine. In this regard we are currently renewing contracts with our existing providers in chronological order.
As agreed by Government, a Senior Officials accommodation management working group, chaired by Conn Murray, former CEO Limerick County Council, has been established to support my Department, the Department of Housing, Heritage and Local Government and the Local Authorities in the agile delivery of accommodation required for BOTPs, including the programme for overseeing delivery of accommodation from those properties which require refurbishment.
In line with the Recast Reception Conditions Directive (SI 230 of 2018) the State has a legal obligation to provide accommodation and supports of those who seek international protection in Ireland.
The Reception Conditions Directive aims at ensuring common standards of reception conditions throughout the EU.
The Directive ensures that applicants have access to housing, food, clothing, health care, education for minors and access to employment (within a maximum period of 9 months).
It provides particular attention to vulnerable persons, especially unaccompanied minors and victims of torture. EU countries must conduct an individual assessment to identify the special reception needs of vulnerable persons and to ensure that vulnerable asylum seekers can access medical and psychological support.
The State is currently accommodating circa 20,100 people in IPAS accommodation compared with 8,500 at this time last year.
