Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 May 2023
423. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if permission will be provided by IPAS in relation to a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23903/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland has responded to the largest displacement of people on the European continent since the Second World War. Since February 2022, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has worked extensively to accommodate over 82,000 arrivals fleeing the war in Ukraine, of which 60,000 have sought accommodation from this Department.
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, the Department has contracted in excess of 47,000 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 770 settings including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings.
The priority is to place people fleeing the war in safe and secure accommodation.
Given arrival numbers, sourcing suitable accommodation continues to be a challenge. The accommodation provided to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine by my Department is temporary in its nature and given the number of people that are being accommodated it is not possible to develop tailored solutions for individuals or families. In seeking to address immediate accommodation needs, safety and security are the paramount considerations.
I am advised by my officials that in certain instances such requests are assessed on a case by case basis taking into consideration particular circumstances. I am further advised that officials from the relevant division within the Department have communicated directly to the party referred to on this matter previously.
The cross-Government response is being supported by the Community Response Forum, a Local Authority led programme providing assistance to those fleeing the war in Ukraine. I would advise you to contact the relevant Local Authority this regard – who may be able to provide additional information.
Beneficiaries of temporary protection are entitled to make their own private arrangements including potentially availing of pledged accommodation if they wish, and can avail of some supports to do so. To date, over 7,300 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection have been accommodated in over 3,100 pledged properties. Those wishing to avail of pledged accommodation in any given area should contact the Local Authority in that area or the Irish Red Cross pledge process. The Irish Red Cross can be contacted by email at registerofpledges@redcross.ie or by phoning 1800 50 70 70.
I also wish to draw attention to the Government announcement of November 2022 regarding the new call for unoccupied houses. The campaign to assist those fleeing the war in Ukraine may be of interest in the context of this request and further information can be found at offerahome.ie/ . Again, in the context of the above request, it is advisable to contact the relevant Local Authority (relevant County Council in the area persons wish to reside in). As of May 2023, 2,677 beneficiaries of temporary protection have been accommodated under the Offer a Home Scheme.
More information on support available to Ukrainian people while they are in Ireland and information on how people and community groups can help can be found at the Government website: www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/bc537-irelands-response-to-the-situation-in-ukraine/
