Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to confirm the Deputy's points about those displaced over the weekend. That was disappointing. We do not want that situation to happen. All Ukrainian displaced persons and international protection, IP, applicants who were not accommodated over the weekend have now been contacted and offered accommodation.

On the co-ordination front, I am aware of the issue because we met with the various groups over the summer. In my view, it has to be a cross-departmental and multi-departmental approach. That is why at Government level, having a Cabinet subcommittee and a senior official group is the best structure to do that. There were some suggestions early on that one would appoint an individual from outside the system who would endeavour to co-ordinate it. In essence, however, it has to be done across the Departments and the public service.

A second call will be initiated through the local authority system with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage having an oversight view to make that stronger and more streamlined into the future. As I said, work on the reconfiguration of existing buildings and other buildings is also on the way. We will seek and need the co-operation of everybody when we start doing things expeditiously in terms of procurement and value for money. All of that will have to be put to one side as we move ahead in this.

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