Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, the whole-of-government response has been co-ordinated by a Cabinet committee chaired by the Taoiseach. Due to the impact of the dramatic increase in applicants, matters relating to international protection are also addressed at that Cabinet committee. My engagement with the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, and all other Ministers with responsibilities in the Government's response to the migration pressures is within the framework of the Cabinet committee. The Cabinet committee is supported by a senior officials group and that, again, is under the leadership of the Department of the Taoiseach. The senior officials group consists of senior officials from all Departments, including my Department and the Department of Health. This group meets on a regular basis and issues arising are followed up by the relevant departmental officials as required.

While my Department assists with the Government’s response to ensure that beneficiaries of temporary protection and international protection applicants receive accommodation, in line with Government policy, my colleague, the Minister for Health, co-ordinates the provision of health supports as appropriate.

My officials have regular meetings with the HSE’s national social inclusion office to discuss operational matters. The HSE is provided with information regarding new accommodation centres coming onstream and the number of beneficiaries of temporary protection, BOTP, and international protection applicants in State-provided accommodation across Ireland. These meetings enable officials in the HSE to provide any additional medical supports for communities, if required.

My Department’s community engagement team liaises directly with elected representatives, relevant local authorities, local development companies, and other entities and individuals. The community engagement team, CET, informs all relevant State support services, including the Department of Health and the HSE, of the opening of accommodation centres for both Ukrainians and international protection applicants, and enables them to prepare any additional supports needed to assist residents to settle in to the local community.

The whole-of-government Ukraine response is supported at a local level by the community integration forum in each local authority. Key State agencies, such as the HSE, would be represented on the community integration forums.

See this speech in context