Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the announcement that the Government has reversed the decision in Killarney. It was a very welcome development that, once it was drawn to the attention of Government, it operated in a very humane and quick way. It is regrettable it got to that stage. However, I very much appreciate and welcome that this morning.

When we began welcoming and supporting the families fleeing Ukraine due to this horrific and illegal war, we anticipated a six-month timeframe and we talked in these terms when families were asked to open their homes and support Ukrainians coming to Ireland. I appreciate that the situation escalated and continues to go on.In the last few days there have been further atrocities with bombings and missile strikes on Kyiv, and on Lviv only yesterday. The war in Ukraine will go on for much longer than we anticipated or hoped and I appreciate that the war has put staff and certainly the officials in the Department under huge pressure. I wish to pay tribute to departmental staff, particularly those in Citywest whom I know work extraordinary hours and well beyond what normally is demanded as part of their job descriptions because of their sheer passion for supporting Ukrainian families.

I tabled this matter long before what happened in Killarney. In the last few weeks a number of families have approached me to tell me that the Ukrainians who are staying with them are worried that as their six months stay is coming to an end they will have to return to Ukraine or wonder what is the best course of action. I know of one instance that occurred in a conversation I had last night where I learned that one mother had informed the school attended by her children that the family would be leaving because their accommodation was going to finish this month and that situation had consequences for SNA hours for a child.

There is uncertainty with regard to Ukrainians staying with families. Perhaps there are Irish families who initially opened up their homes and now need to be assured that support will continue, and to have certainty that the Government is engaged with the ongoing plight of the Ukrainians and will provide families with supports.

My main question is about communication. I appreciate that this is a fluid situation and that everyone does their best but clarity is absent. Can the Department ask people to extend their accommodation for a further six months? The State has committed to at least a further six months but I contend that ideally the period should be a year because Ukrainians would have no homes to return to even if the war ends. I believe that there is a necessity for us to visit the fact that those initial commitment periods are now ending and, therefore, a solution must be provided. Will people be housed elsewhere? I would prefer if people could stay where they are because they have already come from trauma and are only a short period in Ireland. I would prefer if people were allowed to stay where they are as they have now built up networks, taken jobs and are part of a community. We certainly have a desire and a need to communicate stability and clarity in order to give Ukrainians some level of certainty and comfort.