Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 to 36, inclusive, together.

The Cabinet committee on the humanitarian response to Ukraine and migration last met on Thursday, 4 May. The next meeting will take place shortly. This committee, which I chair, works to ensure a co-ordinated approach to the State’s humanitarian response for people arriving from Ukraine who have sought temporary protection here. The Government’s co-ordinated response to the humanitarian crisis is extensive. Ireland has never seen so many people arrive in such a short timeframe. Since the start of the war, more than 83,000 people have arrived from Ukraine and availed of temporary protection in Ireland. To date, Ireland has accommodated 84,000 people in State-sourced accommodation. These are mostly people who have fled here from Ukraine and people seeking international protection.

In light of the acute and growing pressures in the face of continuing arrivals, the Government is continuing to maximise the pace and scale of sourcing suitable accommodation. All Departments and agencies, as well as local government, are working to co-ordinate the State’s humanitarian response at a national and local level. The State’s overall response to current demand pressures includes continuing the unoccupied homes campaign, providing pledged accommodation, preparing installation of rapid-build new homes on suitable sites and accelerating the refurbished buildings programme, which now includes consideration of commercial properties and sites for development, refurbishment or purchase, and the use of alternative modular buildings.

In addition to meetings of the Cabinet committee, I have regular engagements with Ministers at Cabinet and individually to discuss matters of concern to their Departments. Work is also ongoing across Government to intensify communications and community engagement on the humanitarian response. The Government is keeping our response to all aspects of this humanitarian crisis, in particular accommodation options, under continuous review.

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