Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 April 2023
488. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if IPAS is providing accommodation for Ukrainian beneficiaries of temporary protection or international protection applicants at a property (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19510/23]
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. In addition, more than 7,000 beneficiaries have also been accommodated in pledged accommodation properties.
The priority is to place people fleeing the war in safe and secure accommodation.
I am advised by my officials that My Department is not providing accommodation at the property referred to by the Deputy in respect of either Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection or International Protection applicants.
