Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Conway for raising this important issue. I was struck by the total decency, generosity, kindness and humanity he has shown in advancing his Commencement matter on this issue and the way in which he has done it by respecting the lives, experiences and difficulties encountered by the people who have come here from Ukraine and developed good relationships here and the overall balance in terms of the people in County Clare and the economic need. It is exactly this sort of balanced public representation that is the way we should be approaching the migration crisis and the difficulties associated with it.

It just strikes me that the Senator's contribution was in such contrast to some other contributions we hear from other Senators or Deputies in relation to this matter. To give an example, let us take Deputy Pearse Doherty, the senior spokesperson from Sinn Féin, whose new policy is to send Ukrainians back to the safe parts of Ukraine, wherever he imagines those are, next March when the temporary protection directive has to be reconsidered. This is in total contrast to the generous, humane and kind approach the Senator has taken here, balancing the overall needs, economic and social, of the people in County Clare. I thank the Senator for raising this matter and for the approach he has taken.

The Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, has asked me to provide an update in relation to the strategy generally in respect of the beneficiaries of the temporary protection supports that are given. These supports are short-term arrangements and are temporary. The Minister's response states that the Department aims to ensure it has a portfolio of accommodation that meets the evolving needs of the State’s response to the Ukraine crisis. He also states that in recent months there have been decreases in arrivals from Ukraine to Ireland, decreases in those arriving who request accommodation from the State and greater numbers of Ukrainians who choose to move on from State accommodation.

This is the position at present. I recognise, however, that we are having this conversation in July. Winter is coming and Russia has done its best to make Ukraine unlivable then with the bombing of energy production facilities. Coupled with an absence of factories to replace glass, this will mean the position in the country will be extremely difficult and so we might expect there to be a different situation in Ukraine in the autumn. This is now, however, and the Senator has raised concerns about the transfer of beneficiaries of temporary protection from properties in County Clare. The Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, has asked me to update the Senator by stating there are no current planned moves from Kilkee, County Clare. However, as the Senator already identified, contracts with an accommodation centre in Kilbaha and two accommodation centres in Shannon have recently been terminated.

The beneficiaries of temporary protection, but rather than use that term, let us call them people, accommodated in one such centre in Shannon have been relocated as of 24 June to Lisdoonvarna, as the Senator said. The relocation of these 21 people from Kilbaha is due to commence today, 11 July, and further relocations are planned for later this month. What the Minister says, however, is that every effort has really been made to keep the people affected by these moves as local as possible but given the number of moves that may take place over the next few months, this is not always possible. The only factors that can be considered when allocating follow-on accommodation are HSE-assessed medical needs. The Minister states it is not possible to take other issues such as employment or school places into account when allocating follow-on accommodation. Of course, this is coming from an accommodation perspective.

The Minister states he cannot comment on specific cases but that the Department is making decisions to end commercial contracts, in accordance with contractual terms and conditions agreed with providers, on the basis of financial, administrative or other accommodation management reasons, including compliance concerns. That is in some situations but I am not suggesting it is the case in this situation. This would allow this accommodation to return to the private sector, particularly the tourism sector, which, of course, the Senator has identified as being an important pressure that must be balanced with trying to provide accommodation to people fleeing war.

Officials in the Minister's Department work with providers to regularise contracts where possible, but all accommodation provided by the Department is temporary, and people are informed of this when they request accommodation from the State and encouraged to try to make their own arrangements, such as they can, for longer-term accommodation. The Minister asked me to say that he does appreciate this is not easy for people and that moving location can be very disruptive, especially for people who are already deeply traumatised. There is, however, a requirement to balance the need for him to provide the best care we can to all those fleeing the war in Ukraine and coming to Ireland with the requirement to make the best possible use of State funds. What the Senator said about there being a county-by-county strategy would be a very good approach and I will certainly bring this suggestion to the attention of the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman.