Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 February 2023
214. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a building (details supplied) is being considered for accommodation for Ukrainian beneficiaries of temporary protection or international protection applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6286/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland is responding to the largest displacement of people on the European continent since the Second World War. Since 24 February 2022, my Department has worked to accommodate an unprecedented volume of persons seeking refuge from the invasion of Ukraine, coming to over 73,000 people, of which over 53,000 have sought accommodation.
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 42,000 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 700 settings including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings.
The priority is to place people fleeing the conflict in safe and secure accommodation.
I can confirm that my Department is considering the premises referred to by the Deputy as potential accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. Discussions are ongoing and my Department is not in a position to disclose details of negotiations, nor of commercially sensitive information such as accommodation rates, durations and capacities of individual contractors.
