Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

With our continuing welcome efforts to assist the Ukrainian people, some issues have arisen. Given the absence of a centralised European uniform approach to the provision of financial supports and accommodation for Ukrainians fleeing the war, the stark difference in the supports offered in the EU-26 and the UK when compared to the extensive supports available in this country, together with the at times chaotic and indeed reckless approach being taken by the Government in the procurement of accommodation for this purpose at the expense, at times, of the housing needs of families and students living, working and studying in this country, can the Minister inform the House whether the flawed tender issued by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and won by a UK-based fund that owns student accommodation at Benbulben Court and Milligan Court in Sligo to house Ukrainian refugees, in the latest manifestation of our at times absurd approach, is set to progress to contract, thus displacing 500 students, which constitutes a full 25% of student accommodation available to support the Atlantic Technological University, ATU, Ireland's newest university?

See this speech in context