Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome to the Public Gallery representatives from Helping Irish Hosts, the Irish Red Cross, Ukraine Civic Society Forum and Ukrainian Action in Ireland. I thank Helping Irish Hosts and the Irish Red Cross for providing a positive and uplifting briefing this morning which I had the honour of chairing. I thank colleagues from across the House who came along to the AV room. We heard there are over 21,000 Ukrainians staying with Irish hosts, that 25% of displaced Ukrainians are in host accommodation and pledged properties across the country and that there has been a positive experience for those who have provided host accommodation and guests who have stayed there.

The Minister, Deputy O’Gorman, may respond on this. We were asked to ensure there are sufficient supports for the hosts and guests and, in particular, we were asked what is the long-term plan beyond the expiration of the temporary protection directive in March 2025. Can we widen the accommodation recognition payment to other programme refugees?

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