Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise some concerns about accommodation for Ukrainian refugees. One constituent is owed more than €400,000 since last October for accommodation he has provided. Unless he is paid, he will have to withdraw that accommodation. Nobody wants that. What is the delay?

The second issue is the need for good, timely communication with local communities about the location of refugee accommodation. Lack of clear information allows rumours to spread. The damage is done and is impossible to repair.

One constituent gave a house to a Ukrainian family before there was any money involved. That family subsequently returned to Ukraine. Since the end of last September, that family has been trying to get another Ukrainian family into that house but the family is being bounced from one agency to another, be it the local authority, Red Cross, or the International Organisation for Migration, IOM. Generous, decent people are beginning to lose patience. I want to ask for a more timely response.

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