Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 October 2023
305. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current situation regarding an application for funding to adapt a building (details supplied) in County Cork as an accommodation centre for refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44700/23]
View answerThe Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is the lead Department for the provision and allocation of accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. The role of my Department in this area is a supporting role as part of the broader, whole of Government response.
My Department is supporting the whole of Government effort on Ukraine across 3 strands;
Emergency Refurbishment (Ukraine) Project ;
“Offer a Home” call; and
Supporting the Identification of Sites for Rapid Build Homes.
My Department was tasked with supporting the refurbishment programme given links with local authorities, the availability of an existing building advisory team in my Department, and in particular, the sustained pressure on DCEDIY to deliver a large volume of accommodation for significant numbers of Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BoTP).
The Department of the Taoiseach has put in place a new structure, the Accommodation Working Group, to consider all strands of accommodation for BoTPs and applicants for International Protection, and to decide on which projects are progressed. In practice, this means collective decisions are made on which buildings to refurbish. These decisions are made by a Technical Working Group (TWG) working under the auspices of the Accommodation Working Group. Membership of the TWG includes my Department, DCEDIY, the Department of the Taoiseach, the Local Government Management Agency and the City and County Management Association.
The property in question has been brought to the attention of my Department by Cork County Council, as a potential project requiring refurbishment to accommodate displaced Ukrainians. As this property is privately owned, it would inappropriate for my Department release specific details. I can confirm however, that at this time, no agreement has been entered into in respect of this property.
