Ireland 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 following the invasion of Ukraine, with over 77,000 people arriving in Ireland, including 57,000 who 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, my Department has contracted in excess of 47,000 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.
I am advised by my officials that in 2022, given the scale of expressions of interest, it took some time for the Irish Red Cross to complete the tasks associated with the Pledge Programme. My Department does not have a monthly breakdown in the format sought by the Deputy. However, the Irish Red Cross has confirmed that all persons who have expressed an interest in hosting refugees have been contacted. A significant number of pledgers were uncontactable. For 2023, the Irish Red Cross has set a target of making contact with any new pledgers within three days of their expression of interest in hosting a beneficiary with them in their home. Offers of vacant homes are now managed through Local Authorities under the new scheme announced by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in January last.
