Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1345. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the poor conditions for Ukrainian refugees and asylum applicants in emergency accommodation provided by the Government; and if he will provide details of his engagements with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth on the way that both Departments can work together to resolve these issues. [40178/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the outbreak of the war in Ukraine on 24 February, and the invoking of the temporary protection Directive by the European Union shortly afterwards, my Department has worked intensively as part of the cross-governmental response, with a focus on the immediate, short-term accommodation needs of those who have fled Ukraine.
The operational challenges brought about by responding to the conflict are significant. Our country has never experienced an influx of displaced persons like the one that we have seen over the past months. My Department’s role is focused on the immediate, short-term accommodation needs of those who have fled here.
To date, more than 42,000 people have arrived in Ireland and in excess of 31,000 of those have been referred to us seeking accommodation from the State. Numbers seeking international protection have also increased adding to accommodation capacity issues.
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, a broad range of accommodation types have been contracted, including emergency accommodation. At present, over 400 contracts are currently in place across the country to meet these temporary accommodation needs. This represents over 25,000 beds in hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs, hostels, self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings, with additional capacity also being pursued through accommodation pledged by the general public, state-owned or private properties which may be suitable for short-term accommodation, accommodation belonging to voluntary bodies, religious order properties and Local Authority facilities. This figure includes around 4,500 beds in student accommodation. The priority is to shelter all people fleeing the conflict in safe and secure accommodation and I appreciate that the standard of accommodation provided varies due to constraints on supply in this challenging environment.
