Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Since early 2022, Ireland has provided accommodation to more than 99,000 people, between those fleeing Ukraine and international protection applicants. This includes more than 73,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection and more than 25,000 international protection applicants currently in IPAS accommodation. Prior to the war in Ukraine, there were 8,300 applicants for international protection in State-supported accommodation. My Department is focused on the provision of immediate temporary accommodation for beneficiaries of temporary protection who seek it. BOTPs can access the labour market on arrival in Ireland, as well as education and health supports. International protection applicants can be granted permission to access the labour market if they have been waiting six months or more for the first decision on their application.

The Department of the Taoiseach co-ordinates the whole-of-government response to Ukraine. Other Departments and agencies are also involved in this response and the integration of BOTPs and international protection applicants. The cross-government Ukraine response is being supported by community response forums at local authority level, which provide assistance to those fleeing the war in Ukraine, as well as to international protection applicants. The forums include representatives from NGOs, volunteers, the HSE and others at community level throughout the country who are contributing to the welcoming and integration of new arrivals.

A new community engagement team was established in September. Its role is to engage with communities to assist with the arrival of asylum seekers and those seeking protection from the war in Ukraine. The team engages with communities to assist with the welcome and integration process for new arrivals.

The programme for Government committed to developing and implementing a successor to the migrant integration strategy, which concluded in 2021. Work is currently under way to develop a new national strategy, which will build on the momentum of its predecessor and address ongoing and emerging needs in supporting migrant integration in Ireland.

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