Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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580. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to establish an Intreo office and / or social protection office at Dublin Airport, Rosslare port and Dublin port in order to assist the efforts of the Department of Justice in processing arrivals from the conflict in Ukraine; and the way in which persons fleeing the war in Ukraine can obtain a PPS number in instances in which the Department of Justice delay in issuing documentation. [13987/22]

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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590. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the entitlements for incoming Ukrainian refugees that are not in a position to work due to age or disability;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14098/22]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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624. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the social welfare supports offered and accessed by individuals and families fleeing the Ukrainian crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14605/22]

James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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640. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the new measures being provided to Ukrainian refugees arriving in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14897/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 580, 590, 624 and 640 together.

On 4 March 2022, the Council of the European Union unanimously adopted the implementing decision regarding the Temporary Protection Directive, due to 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.  The Department’s immediate priorities are the allocation of PPSNs and the provision of immediate financial supports. A fast-track approach has been put in place which includes a simplified decision-making process and quick processing of PPSNs to allow access to public services.  

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.   

We are aiming to ensure that the customer’s application for Supplementary Welfare Allowance is processed as quickly and efficiently as possible to provide immediate financial assistance. Thereafter they can apply for a social welfare payment appropriate to their circumstances such as state pensions, jobseeker's allowance, one parent family payment and disability allowance.  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 in Dublin Airport to meet with people arriving from Ukraine and they will ensure that temporary residence certificates and PPSNs are allocated and the appropriate financial supports are provided.  

A number of additional dedicated centres are also being set up at locations across the country. Centres in Dublin city centre and Cork city centre have opened, with an additional dedicated centre to open in Limerick later this week. The Department's network of Intreo offices around the country is also being used to help people from the Ukraine who arrive in the country.  

We will seek to ensure that all those fleeing the war in Ukraine that will arrive here will be provided with what is required to help them access other public services and receive the appropriate financial supports. 

I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputies at this time.