Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There are many elements to this. First, taking this all in the round, there is a serious problem with the issue of the 90 days as well in that we will work so hard for all of this additional accommodation but then after 90 days people are expected to find their own accommodation. Not only that but with these reduced rates, it is worth stating that there is a significant difference now between somebody who does not go to an accommodation centre and somebody who finds their own accommodation. There is an element where there is an incentive for people to find their own accommodation, putting people who are seeking international protection from Ukraine in competition in the rental market. We will say, for example, there are two adults and two children in the accommodation centre. They would receive €137.20. If they are outside of these designated centres, they would receive €478 as well as being able to offer €800 to a landlord for accommodation. It is not difficult to imagine that people might make that choice and decide they would be better outside of the accommodation centre and seeking a place themselves, which puts them in competition in a severely overheated rental market.

We are talking about this in the context of this all hinging on designated centres and we have no idea where they will be. We are taking it on trust that the Department will have enough capacity and be able to find it all. There is already a two-tier system and we are creating a new tier within that. It is all hanging on the designation of centres, a list of which and an example of which do not exist at the minute.