Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I did not expect to be first. I thank the Minister and his staff for attending.

I add my voice to those condemning the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. It is heartbreaking to see some of the images and listening to some of the stories of people who are arriving on our shores.

I acknowledge the work of the Minister and his Department in handling this issue so far. It is, as he said, a very difficult situation, one which we did not expect to see this time last year. I commend the Minister and his staff on the work they have done so far. It is a difficult undertaking.

The Minister mentioned that his Department is focused on housing needs. As my party's spokesperson on mental health, I will speak on the mental health needs of people arriving in the country, especially the psychosocial disabilities that are associated with displaced people.

Until recently, Ukrainian people like most people here were living a normal life. All of a sudden, their normal lives were ripped away from them. Their schools, jobs, security and everything they know changed overnight. One of the biggest difficulties I have been hearing about is the separation of families. Mothers and children coming over here have left loved ones behind, particularly husbands or older sons who must stay back and fight for the cause. Another element is that many elderly people are not able to make the arduous journey across borders to flee to freedom. These people are fleeing a war-torn country, which is a traumatic experience for anybody to endure.

As I highlighted previously in the Dáil, research has shown that people who experience displacement and war can suffer post-traumatic stress disorder. Children are particularly vulnerable. On a recent news report, a mother spoke about trying to shield her son and daughter from shelling and how she told them that everything would be alright. She was doing what any parent would. The natural instinct of parents is to make sure their children are alright. Notwithstanding how much the parent tried to shield her children from the horrible things going on outside, it was very difficult for the children. My concern is that post-traumatic stress does not always manifest itself straightaway. It can come later in life, whether one month or six months down the line. When people arrive on these shores it is easy to identify physical health issues and people are then directed to the appropriate services. It is not always the same when it comes to mental health, however. What mental health supports are in place? Are they available in the temporary accommodation? Can people speak to someone and, if so, are the services culturally appropriate? The Minister mentioned language needs of children with a disability who are going to early childhood education places. Those are my first questions.