Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 July 2022
259. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide a schedule of the number of persons from Ukraine that are being accommodated at a location (details supplied); and the number of persons who have been removed and voluntarily left the centre since it began providing accommodation and related services. [36916/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra260. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if any persons have been evicted and or escorted from a location (details supplied) by An Garda Síochána; the rationale for these evictions and or departures; and if he has provided persons who have left the centre with the appropriate accommodation and access to support services. [36917/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra261. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department conducted a quality control and or review of the use of a location (details supplied); and the actions that he will take on foot of recommendations and observations from that report. [36922/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 259 to 261, inclusive, together.
Since 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.
The operational challenges brought about by responding to the conflict are significant. Our country has never experienced an influx of displaced persons like the one that we have seen over the past months. My Department’s role is focused on the immediate, short-term accommodation needs of those who have fled here.
To date, more than 39,000 people have arrived in Ireland and in excess of 29,000 of those have been referred to us seeking accommodation from the State.
Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe for all those who require it remains immensely challenging. Due to the urgent need to source accommodation, a broad range of accommodation types have been contracted, including emergency accommodation. While this is not ideal, the priority is to place people fleeing the conflict in safe and secure accommodation.
Numbers seeking international protection have also increased adding to accommodation capacity issues.
I can confirm to the Deputy that accommodation in the Emmaus Centre in Swords commenced on Friday 8th April 2022. Approximately 85 persons are accommodated in the centre.
The Department procures accommodation but the centres are run by the accommodation providers or facilities management companies. The Department contracts a company, QTS, to carry out inspections at centres where issues are raised. The Department contracted QTS to carry out an inspection at Emmaus in light of the concerns raised. All procedures were found by QTS to be in order in the centre in question.
Staff from my Department visited Emmaus Centre last week and all residents were invited to meet to provide feedback on their experience of living in Emmaus. Sixteen residents (age range from 19 to 74) took the opportunity to speak about life in the Centre, and all were very positive with no concerns raised.
Alternative accommodation was provided to one resident. I cannot comment on the details of individual cases.
