Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 October 2023
262. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will intervene in the case of a Ukrainian family who are living at a location (details supplied). [47136/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, my Department is responding to the largest increase in the number of people seeking refuge in the State's history. Since February 2022, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has worked extensively to accommodate over 98,000 arrivals fleeing the war in Ukraine, over 80% have sought accommodation from this Department, with the majority (over 58,000) placed in serviced accommodation.
As part of its move towards a more sustainable accommodation policy, my Department is working with the Office of Public Works (OPW) to develop the programme of rapid build modular homes for BOTPs. This programme aims to support BOTPs towards greater independence and self-sufficiency. It is supported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) which identifies families suitable for modular housing.
The situation in relation to the availability of accommodation for BOTPs arriving in Ireland remains extremely challenging. My Department has put in place procedures to enable Ireland to continue to meet its obligations under the Temporary Protection Directive and to ensure short-term accommodation is allocated in a fair and equitable manner. This includes the introduction of a refusals protocol.
Due to the acute shortage of accommodation, under the refusals protocol, if a person refuses an offer of suitable accommodation they will not receive further offers from my Department. My Department cannot provide alternative accommodation to people for reasons of employment, school, family reunification or other non-medical reasons. Exceptions will only be made for those with a medical vulnerability. Such cases will be subject to separate arrangements.
A person may at any time arrange accommodation privately and seek assistance from other State supports, such as Rent Supplement.
