Written answers

Thursday, 10 March 2022

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Ukrainian War

Photo of Carol NolanCarol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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324. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the response of her Department to the Ukrainian war crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13730/22]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Firstly, I want to say that my thoughts and prayers go out to those people who have been impacted by this terrible and unjust war.

On 4 March 2022, the European Council adopted unanimously the implementing decision regarding the Temporary Protection Directive, due to the mass influx of persons fleeing Ukraine as a consequence of the war. This will allow Ukrainian citizens and others fleeing Ukraine to avail of supports throughout the EU. I wish to emphasise that people arriving from Ukraine have been granted the status to avail of income supports from my Department under the EU Temporary Protection Directive.

My Department has an excellent record in reacting quickly and appropriately to emergency situations, as was clear from the way it put in place pandemic income supports in response to the COVID 19 crisis.

My Department's immediate priorities will be the allocation of PPSNs and the provision of immediate financial supports. A fast-track procedure for these services has been put in place.

People will be eligible for financial support initially under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme. Ukrainian citizens and others fleeing the war will satisfy the Habitual Residence Condition and the relevant means test.

My Department’s aim will be to ensure that the customer’s application for Supplementary Welfare Allowance is processed quickly and efficiently to provide immediate financial assistance to these people. We have also arranged for payments such as child benefit to be made within a very short period.

Officials from my Department and the Department of Justice are now in Dublin Airport to meet with people arriving from Ukraine and they will ensure that PPSNs are allocated and temporary residence certificates and the appropriate financial supports are provided.

As not all people will come through Dublin Airport, my Department's network of Intreo offices around the country will also allocate PPSNs and provide immediate financial supports to people from Ukraine who arrive in the country.

The provision of PPSNs to people from Ukraine ensures that all Ukrainians that arrive here have access to other public services and receive the appropriate financial supports.

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