Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is a great honour for me to be in the Seanad and to have the opportunity to contribute to this debate. I thank my colleagues in Fine Gael, in particular Senators Seery Kearney and Dolan, for the work and effort that went into this motion. I also acknowledge the contributions from all parties and none across the House. The contributions I have listened to over the past number of hours have clearly demonstrated that the views of this House are very much representative of the reaction of the Irish people. That has been evident in the specific and detailed questions asked and the individual points raised on what is impacting the lives of the Ukrainian people. This tells me that many Members of this House are working hard to ensure a smooth transition for the people who are with us now.

We are all horrified at the outrageous attack on the people of Ukraine. I will now outline the Government's response and address some of the key points raised by Senators.In response to some of the points that were raised, Senator Higgins highlighted the risk of referencing only Ukrainian women and children and having a risk of stigma around male refugees. I am acutely aware that we have some male refugees here who are lone parents and that some of their children have disabilities. It is a point well made. We have to be very careful that we do not get a certain image in our head. There are many different victims and the impact of this conflict has very different consequences for so many people. Our role in the Government and the role of the Irish people is to support everyone as far as we can in all those elements.

In response to Senator Malcolm Byrne, the Government stands fully behind Ukraine's application for EU membership. We all look forward to President Zelenskiy's address to both Houses of the Oireachtas next week. Senator Carrigy commented on support for Irish farms and food producers impacted by the conflict. It is important to put on record that we do not have a food security or feed security crisis here. The Government wants to support our food production sector and farmers to ensure that we do not have one into the future either. We are acutely aware of the impact of the cost of living on Irish people, which has been made worse as a result of this conflict. That has impacted on our businesses and farmers. That is why we have targeted supports from the Government for our tillage sector and our pig farmers who are really struggling at present. Discussions continue about further potential interventions to support that sector through very difficult times.

Since the outbreak of the war and the arrival in Ireland of the first Ukrainians fleeing it, the scale of the response to the crisis has been unprecedented. Ireland has received 15,294 arrivals from Ukraine as of 29 March. We have established dedicated teams at our airports and ports that meet new arrivals from Ukraine with teams from several Departments including the Departments of Social Protection, Health, Justice and Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Officials from these Departments are ensuring that every person arriving is met and given support as soon as possible.

The International Protection Accommodation Service, IPAS, of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has temporarily taken responsibility for providing accommodation to Ukrainian refugees. Officials are continuously working to source further accommodation and supports for Ukrainian arrivals to Ireland through hotel accommodation and various other accommodation options and solutions. The Irish Red Cross, the Defence Forces and estate agents and valuers have started to evaluate pledges placed through the national pledge mechanism operated by the Irish Red Cross, and to inspect the properties with a view to making them available quickly to refugees.

It is a priority for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to ensure the system of recognition of the skills and qualifications of Ukrainians is expedited to support those Ukrainians who want to access the workplace. This will enable Ukrainian people coming to Ireland to work and use their skills within the Irish economy. The Minister, Deputy Harris, and his Department are working intensively with the European Commission to ensure that the qualification recognition process aligns across the EU.

For those Ukrainians arriving in Ireland seeking to continue or start their education, the Department is determined to ensure the provision of these services and their accessibility. We are working to ensure the information we provide is in a language which is easily understood by those we are working to assist. On supports for accessing further education, such as the SUSI grant, the Department is examining options to ensure incoming Ukrainian students would be eligible for student supports. Statutory and administrative options are being considered, and legal advice has been sought as to what actions can be taken in order for incoming Ukrainians to be eligible for some assistance. The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science will be bringing forward proposals shortly.

The 16 education and training boards offer English-language skills courses for adults. When the temporary directive was activated, spare capacity was identified in the system to meet the needs of Ukrainian people coming to Ireland. Ukrainians wishing to learn English or improve their English can contact their local ETB for an assessment of their English language competency across the four core skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking.

The Government is working to ensure that local capacity, resources and knowledge are brought to bear on the humanitarian response to people fleeing Ukraine and seeking protection in Ireland. Ireland has a well-developed volunteer infrastructure in place and the capacity, willingness and expertise exist at local level to co-ordinate responses, signpost services, and link voluntary and statutory efforts. The response to Covid-19 has shown us the positive impact we can have by working together at local and national level. Massive efforts were made by volunteers during the pandemic, and dedicated volunteers across the country are already working again to help people from Ukraine arriving in Ireland.

As the new arrivals begin to settle in, each local authority is establishing a community response forum to provide a focal point for the community response in their area. The community response fora will enable all those involved to work together under the stewardship of the local authority. This will ensure effective co-ordination in providing supports to the new Ukrainian communities. The community volunteers pilot programme is also providing a way for local communities to offer support to those in need. The programme is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development, co-ordinated by Volunteer Ireland and volunteer centres, and supported by the local authority in each area. The programme is initially running in counties Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Louth, Meath and Wicklow, and roll-out is due this year in ten further counties.

The Department of Health and the HSE have put in place a streamlined medical card application process for Ukrainian refugees. A lag in applications is apparent and was expected as refugees are settling into their accommodation. Senator Wall raised specific points about that application process. I can confirm that as of 28 March, medical cards had been issued to 605 Ukrainians with 224 applications pending. The medical card section on the HSE website is replicated in Russian and Ukrainian. Ukrainian and Russian versions of the medical card form are also available.

The HSE in consultation with the Irish Medical Organisation has prepared a range of bespoke options for the provision of general practitioner services to those in IPAS accommodation. The model for each site varies depending on numbers and geographical distribution, however all have access to GP out-of-hours services.

Operational processes for urgent referrals or medical evacuees are in place as Ireland is supporting emergency patient care through medical evacuation where we can. I am pleased to confirm that with assistance from a number of Departments, the HSE and the Air Corps, two paediatric patients were transported from Poland for treatment at Irish hospitals. Although our medical evacuation capacity is limited, we will continue to review patient cases and support this co-ordinated EU effort where we can.

The Irish health system is also providing medical humanitarian assistance. Over the past month, Ireland has been providing donations of medical supplies and equipment to Ukraine in response to the requests for assistance from the Ukrainian authorities and neighbouring countries. Further instalments of this donation are expected to be dispatched later this week and once complete, the total consignment of medical equipment will include over 4,500 items of equipment from hospitals and other sources.

The Department of Education continues to work intensively to make education available to Ukrainian children. This includes supporting the well-being and social and emotional needs of these young people. The Department is already providing supports to schools and is advancing further arrangements to address the short-term educational needs of primary and secondary school age children. The regional education and language teams, REALT, have been established to support the needs of Ukrainian children arriving in Ireland. These teams will be hosted by the 16 regional education and training boards and will be staffed by existing regionally-based personnel working to ensure co-ordination and alignment of supports for Ukrainian children. The primary role of the REALT will be to assist children in finding school places and to support schools to meet the needs of these children.

Capacity is a forefront challenge for the Department, both in terms of physical school buildings in which to accommodate additional pupils, as well as the human resources, teachers, special needs assistants, SNAs, and others with the skills to address their educational needs. Work is under way to identify capacity within existing schools across the country to address the immediate educational needs of arriving Ukrainian refugees, with the location of the accommodation provided for Ukrainian people relevant in identifying appropriate school capacity to meet their education needs. Language plays a vital role in helping students to clarify and interpret experiences, explore ideas and emotions, and deepen their understanding of the world around them. The allocation of specialist resources to schools takes account of the needs of pupils in the school, including, where appropriate, English as an additional language, EAL, needs. The Department is considering in close consultation with other relevant bodies and Departments how best to support intensive English language learning for post-primary age children who may have low levels of English proficiency.

The issue of driver's licences was raised by a number of Senators. It is not in the notes I have for this address but I will bring the matter back to the relevant Minister and highlight the level of concern expressed about it in today's debate. The scale of this humanitarian response is unprecedented for this State, but it is a task we undertake knowing that by doing so, we are saving lives. I ask Senators to continue to work with communities, as they are doing on a daily basis, to welcome those who have arrived already and to prepare for the arrival of those yet to come.