Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 February 2023
241. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a payment will be paid to a centre housing Ukrainian refugees (details supplied) as payment has not issued for the months of September, October, November, December 2022 and January 2023; the reason for the delay with these payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9375/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has engaged over 700 properties to provide accommodation for Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. In line with the Department’s commitment to substantially clear the backlog at the end of 2022, I temporarily re-assigned staff from other parts of the Department in December, doubling the size of the payments unit. The enlarged team approved more than 100 million euros worth of payments.
My Department is prioritising maintaining a practice of more timely payments, including providing more resources to address any issues. Any delays in making payments are deeply regretted and the Department is according this issue very high priority.
I am advised by my officials that payments to the accommodation in question issued in 2022 in respect of mid Sept/Oct. Payments from mid Oct to mid December are expected to issue shortly, pending final checks, while the remaining two invoices are currently in process. Their patience is much appreciated.
