Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 June 2022
310. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of hotels that will be used exclusively to house refugees from Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22147/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the outbreak of the war in Ukraine on 24 February, and the invoking of the temporary protection Directive by the European Union shortly afterwards, my Department has worked intensively as part of the cross-governmental response to the Ukraine crisis.
My Department is focused on providing short-term accommodation to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. Some 23,000 people have sought accommodation in Ireland to date.
As of 29 May 2022, my Department has contractual arrangements in place for approximately 17,800 beds currently in over 300 settings including hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs, hostels, self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings with additional capacity also being pursued through accommodation pledged by the general public, state-owned or private properties which may be suitable for short-term accommodation belonging to voluntary bodies, religious order properties and Local authority facilities.
It is worth noting that in many cases, my Department has not contracted the facility in its entirety.
