Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for attending. It has been a really good discussion. As noted, it is about identifying elements that are working well and also areas on which we need to work and focus. We are looking at a situation in which at least 8 million Ukrainian people have fled their country. According to a recent report from the UN, nearly 14 million people have been displaced out of a country of 40 million, the second largest by size in Europe. Ukraine is part of Europe, as are we. Our response has to meet the demand that is there. That demand is right now, not in a few months, and the Government is meeting it.

There is a whole-of-government approach but there also needs to be an all-agency approach and a whole-of-country approach. There is a demand on everyone here to step up and see how we can best support the families coming to Ireland. The question was put as to how other countries are faring. We know nearly 3.8 million Ukrainians fled to Poland. I understand some 2 million remain there, with more than 1.6 million having returned to Ukraine. Tens of thousands of Ukrainians are returning home every day. However, there remains a huge demand among families who have nowhere to go. Their homes, towns and cities have been destroyed.

The best thing we can do for the Ukrainian children in our education system is, number one, to provide safety. They need a place that is safe, gets them back into a routine and reduces the trauma they have endured over the past number of months. We can do the same for the parents and grandparents who are coming here as well, but the number one focus must be on looking after the children. That is really why the witnesses are here to speak with us today.

I am familiar with the great work that is done by each of the agencies represented. Barnardos staff see the children that are affected on the front line. They have been tackling the problems that disadvantage children throughout this period. The organisation has more than 45 service locations. I welcome that, among all the other things it does, it is providing training to hotel staff who are dealing with Ukrainian families who have been bereaved. I really like that as it shows evidence of thinking and forecasting far ahead. There will be a lot to do in getting children back into a routine. Will the witnesses comment on the importance of establishing routine for children who arrive here?

I am aware that the Irish Red Cross's migration services are also working with many other populations besides Ukrainians, including refugees from Syria and Afghanistan. Will Ms Ryan comment on the importance of the active case work support her organisation is providing to Ukrainians? Apart from educational support, this will include looking at medical support and social welfare, which requires a cross-departmental engagement with the Government. Agencies and Departments are working together to ensure we are providing the utmost support to the people who are arriving here.

Will Mr. Henderson give some detail on the Irish Refugee Council's education fund?

I also thank Ms Ward for her contribution. I welcome that she mentioned the NCSE is part of the regional education and language teams in each of our counties. Each county is working with the education and training boards and, again, the HSE, which I believe has really come to the fore in many of these areas to support children in finding places and in respect of school capacity. How important is it that the NCSE is in those regional education and language, REAL, teams? I ask Ms Carroll to respond first.