Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 October 2022
140. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of modular units that will be delivered and in place by the end of 2022 to house Ukrainian refugees [53799/22]
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.
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 54,000 people have arrived in Ireland and in excess of 43,000 of those have been referred to this Department 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, my Department has contracted in excess of 34,000 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 550 settings including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings.
The Government is committed to delivering a humanitarian response to welcome people seeking protection in Ireland as part of the European Union's overall response. The priority is to place people fleeing the conflict in safe and secure accommodation.
Regarding the matter raised, I can advise the Deputy that John Sisk and Son Holding Ltd. (Sisk) has been appointed as the main contractor for site enabling works and for the procurement, transportation and installation of 500 modular homes under the programme approved by the Government as part of the State’s humanitarian response to the Ukrainian crisis. The 500 homes will have the capacity to accommodate 2,000 Ukrainians (in family units of four). Sisk has sub-contracted five companies spread across Ireland to build modular homes for the programme to the OPW’s specification. An order for the manufacture of 250 modular homes for the first phase of the programme will be placed with the manufacturers imminently. The lead in-line for the manufacturing process is estimated at around 10 weeks.
Further orders will be placed later this year for the balance of the homes required to complete the programme and for any further expansion of it that may be authorised by the Government.
I trust this information is of assistance.
