Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 April 2023
464. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason those who are undertaking community service have had their access to Columb Barracks, Mullingar removed, given the ongoing work that they were participating in on that site. [18929/23]
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 following the invasion of Ukraine with over 80,000 people arriving in Ireland, including 59,000 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 the Department understands that informal arrangements have been in place on a grace and favour basis with some community groups and other public sector bodies in relation to the use of aspects of the former barracks. My Department is advised that the reported use for community service was not made known to the Department of Defence.
