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Refugee Resettlement Programme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 June 2022

Thursday, 23 June 2022

Ceisteanna (381, 382)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

381. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the legislative basis for his policy decision to restrict Ukrainian refugees to a maximum of two offers of accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33502/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

382. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is putting in place an appeals process to accompany his policy decision to restrict Ukrainian refugees to a maximum of two offers of accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33503/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 381 and 382 together.

Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine on February 24, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on meeting the immediate, temporary accommodation needs of those fleeing the conflict.

My Department is focused on the immediate, short-term accommodation needs of those who have fled here. To date, more than 35,000 people have arrived in Ireland and just in excess of 25,000 of those have been referred to this Department seeking accommodation from the State.

Arrivals continue on a daily basis, and the Government remains committed to delivering a humanitarian response to welcome people seeking protection in Ireland as part of the European Union's overall response, and within the framework of the relevant European Directives.

Given the scale of the crisis the State is responding to with the large number of people looking for assistance it is not possible to facilitate requests for accommodation of a certain type or in a particular location except on specific medical or disability grounds.

Refusals of suitable accommodation place significant additional pressures on the system, negatively impacts on the State's ability to provide accommodation for continuing numbers of new arrivals, and leads to inefficiencies managing a limited resource in a time of great emergency.

The Refusals Policy which is now in place seeks both to respect an individual’s right to opt out of the State-sponsored scheme and make their own accommodation arrangements, availing of supports provided by other Departments as appropriate, and to ensure equitable treatment of all arrivals to the greatest extent possible.

Where an individual refuses an offer of suitable accommodation, they will be placed at the end of the queue and in due course will be made a second and final offer of accommodation. Where that second offer of suitable accommodation is refused, it will remain available but no further offers of accommodation will be made. It is important to emphasise that no one is left without an offer of accommodation.

This Refusals Policy was developed in consultation with a range of stakeholders, including with the assistance of the Ukrainian Embassy in Dublin, is communicated in English and Ukrainian at various locations, and will be kept under review. Should an individual have queries or questions in relation to the policy, clarifications may be sought on site with officials, or via ukrainetempaccom@equality.gov.ie.

Finally, this Refusals Policy in no way impacts an individual’s entitlements to access other supports available to them under the BOTP (Beneficiaries of the Temporary Protection order) scheme e.g. social welfare payments, access to medical care etc.

Question No. 382 answered with Question No. 381.
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