Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail)
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I am very glad that the Chair put this subject on the agenda today. It is the first opportunity that we have had to specifically look at what is happening around young people in the Ukrainian situation. I must first acknowledge and compliment the Minister and his team for the outstanding job that they are doing in extraordinarily difficult circumstances. I presume it all looks nice and smooth on the surface but it must impose a huge demand on the Minister, on staff time and so on. They say the first casualty of war is the truth. The second casualty is innocent citizens and civilians. You would wonder if Mr. Putin gave any thought at all to the repercussions of his mad invasion of Ukraine in terms of humanity. That we are living through this in our time is something I never envisaged. But we are, as they say, where we are.

Most of the issues I wanted to raise have been raised. I was glad to hear the Minister clarifying the position about local authority housing. I was getting mixed signals on that. I am sure that the local authority officials and management are stepping up to the mark to assist the Minister in every way they can but it is important that the matter be clarified so I am glad to hear that today.

We have a significant population of people from eastern Europe. Where I live in Kerry it is particularly people from Poland, the Czech Republic, Lithuania and so on. I am sure it is the same around the country. Is that cohort being helpful in any way? Is there any way that they could be brought on board? They would have a lot in common with the Ukrainians. Many might have some language in common. It is something that might be looked at from a practical point of view.

There is huge pressure on education. I know a little about education.

School principals, staff and other parents need to be complimented on the welcoming way in which they are including new students. In fact, we should acknowledge both what is being done in Ireland and the human and Christian way in which we have responded, as we always did and always will. I am proud of that.

My final question is perhaps a little negative. I welcome the €400 payment. It is an important step forward. It will be helpful to certain households to assist them in dealing with rising inflation and costs. How will that be monitored? How will the Minister ensure that the highest standards are adhered to? I have a premonition that this might be a problem down the line. Rather than wait for that to happen, does the Minister have systems in place to monitor all of these things on an ongoing basis in order that we will not be facing tribunals in five years’ time as to what we did or did not do?