Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 November 2022
279. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the new local authority-led pledge call for vacant properties and holiday homes for the temporary housing of refugees will be made. [57391/22]
View answerMy Department and local government are collaborating in a call to property owners with unoccupied properties to offer them as temporary homes to accommodate beneficiaries of temporary protection.
Under this programme, local authorities will accept offers of houses, apartments or holiday homes for temporary accommodation, liaise with owners to assess suitability, and arrange for their use by Ukrainian people and families. A tax-free recognition payment of €800 per month will be available from the Department of Social Protection for properties used to house those arriving from Ukraine.
More than 60,000 people have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine seeking safety and the vast majority need accommodation.
Details of this call, which is being undertaken by the local government sector with support from my Department, on behalf of the Department of Children, Equality, Integration, Disability and Youth, are currently being finalised.
