Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Something has come to my attention over the past month.

I have spoken to some of my colleagues and this is not just an issue in County Wexford. I am talking about accommodation being provided for Ukrainians and for the refugee crisis in both hotels and other accommodation centres. These places have been awaiting payment from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for quite some time. I know of two providers, one being a hotel and the other a centre, that are owed over €400,000. This is not an isolated incident. The hotelier I spoke to this morning said he is considering his own position in hosting Ukrainians because of the lack of payment coming from the Department. I have been in contact with the Department about another case and I can get no reply whatsoever from it except for an acknowledgment. An acknowledgment will not pay the bills for these centres. This is very serious. I ask the Taoiseach and his officials to intervene here. It is a pay issue within the Department-----

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