Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the exceptional welcome and generous actions by Irish people.

An issue arose in Killarney because the accommodation was continuing but with replacement people which created a curious and unnecessary situation. If there is a family who have completed their six-month pledge of accommodation and genuinely do not want to renew then that is fine but people will need to be relocated to wherever there is accommodation. I am sure we all appreciate that the spirit is to accommodate as much as possible.

I urge that families are communicated with and asked whether their pledge of accommodation is open-ended or whether they can commit for another six months. I make that suggestion because at least if people sign up their accommodation for another six months then the Ukrainian people staying with them will have certainty, particularly as these Ukrainian people are already in a precarious position. This is not a leasehold arrangement, and neither should it be, but extending the pledge will give people clarity and certainty. In addition, language difficulties will lead to a further anomaly.

I appreciate that the Minister has committed to ensuring there is communication.