Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 May 2024
474. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount of fees incurred for transporting beneficiaries of temporary protection to their accommodation centres from March 2022 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20784/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraOwing to the largest conflict on the European continent since World War Two, my Department continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing the conflict who request it, in line with Government policy.
To date, over 106,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTPs) have arrived in Ireland and over 84,000 of those have been referred to my Department seeking accommodation from the State.
After Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection arrived in the State and were assigned to designated temporary accommodation under the Temporary Protection Directive, transport would be required for the vast majority. Transport via coach would have been necessary to move people in larger numbers, especially at the height of the crisis, though other transport options would have been availed of, where required.
A breakdown of the costs incurred by my Department for transporting Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection to their accommodation centres from March 2022 to 1st May 2024 is outlined below:
2022 - €4,116,372.22;
2023 - €4,749,147.82; and
2024 - €1,047,397.53.
