Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2023
77. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide details of any proposals that he is planning to make in relation to accommodation for BOTPs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48548/23]
View answerIreland has responded to the largest displacement of people on the European continent since the Second World War. Since February 2022, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has worked extensively to accommodate over 99,000 arrivals fleeing the war in Ukraine, over 80% have sought accommodation from this Department. It is estimated that some 104,000 persons fleeing the conflict in Ukraine will have arrived by the end of the year.
The Temporary Protection Directive was recently extended to 4 March 2025 and will be in place for a longer timeframe than originally envisaged at the time of the decision to activate it in March 2022.
The situation in relation to the availability of accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) arriving in Ireland remains extremely challenging. The Department continually analyses the level of offers being made, the numbers which are contracted following due diligence checks and projected BOTP arrivals in the coming months. There is highly likely to be a gap between available accommodation and arrival numbers over the coming weeks and months, with significant shortfalls expected.
As part of the Government humanitarian response to the situation in Ukraine I continue to keep accommodation policy under review.
