Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 November 2022
137. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of the 500 public buildings that were identified for use in the housing of refugees in April 2022 that are currently in use; and the number of the homes and rooms in private homes that were pledged for use to house refugees that have been activated. [59595/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe properties referred to by the Deputy were forwarded by the Department of Housing at the outset of the crisis. I am advised by my officials that following review of the full list provided, it was identified that my Department had already procured many of the properties and others were not actioned as they were not deemed suitable. All avenues in respect of the properties provided have been exhausted.
I can advise the Deputy that every effort is being made to provide beneficiaries of temporary protection with pledged accommodation that is suitable for their needs. Once a pledge has passed through the inspection process and Garda vetting (where applicable), NGO Implementing Partners and Local Authorities will match Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) to suitable pledges. Since the beginning of the pledge programme in April this year, approximately 11,000 pledged properties have been notified to Local Authorities and other NGO Implementing Partners, with a view to assessing their viability and to match beneficiaries to those properties where possible.
In particular, efforts are focused on activating the remaining pledges that are available for placement of BOTPs. To date 5,520 Beneficiaries have been matched to more than 2,108 pledged properties and this figure increases every week.
As of 25 November, over €8.4mn has been paid out to over 4,200 applicants in respect of approximately 9,300 Temporary Protection Beneficiaries as part of the Accommodation Recognition Payment.
My Department continues to assess and review accommodation offers on an ongoing basis as to their suitability to the needs of BOTPs.
