Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 April 2022
122. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of funding he is allocating to support Government initiatives that are helping Ukraine and the Ukrainian people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20546/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe situation in Ukraine and providing for Ukrainian refugees is a key concern for the Government. We are providing support both through the overseas humanitarian aid and support for refugees arriving on our shores. Providing supports for arrivals from Ukraine is a key humanitarian concern for the Government but one which is likely to have significant costs.
As we are yet at an early stage of movement of people into the country, estimating the exact cost of providing supports to Ukrainian refugees is difficult. The range of potential arrivals is large and the demographic and labour market participation profile of the cohort is unknown. In particular the cost of providing supports is highly sensitive to the accommodation solutions provided.
The 2022 Revised Estimates outlined a contingency of €3.9 billion for 2022, taking account of amounts effectively committed through the extension of Covid supports and introduction of one-off measures to support citizens address the cost of living leaves some two and a half billion remaining uncommitted.
Where the funding requirements to meet the costs of the humanitarian provision for Ukrainian arrivals to Ireland cannot be met by Departments through re-prioritisation of existing resources, it is intended that where allocations are required they would in the first instance be met from the remaining €2½ billion reserve, without requiring an increase in the Government Expenditure Ceiling. However, it should be noted that there may be further demands on this reserve for Covid related spending, depending on position with the virus later in the year.
Moving beyond this year estimating costs becomes even more difficult as length of stay and movement into the labour market are unknown, therefore the recently published Draft Stability Programme Update included a contingency amount of €3 billion for Ukrainian refugees.
The scale of funding needed, for 2022 and future years, will be considered further on an ongoing basis, including in the context of the Summer Economic Statement.
