Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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319. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he and his Department can offer assistance to children and families fleeing from the war in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15674/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) has a number of officials from my Department at Dublin Airport each day. A reception desk has been set up and officials are meeting incoming Ukrainian refugees to aid them with accommodation needs - streamlining the transfers from the airport to the accommodation.

Each Ukrainian national that arrives at Dublin Airport is provided with a permission letter confirming they have been granted Temporary Protection under the EU Directive, which allows for temporary protection for at least one year.

This means Ukrainian nationals fleeing the conflict will be allowed to work and have been given access to health services, accommodation, education for children and other social supports. Details of the new measure have been published on the Department of Justice's Irish immigration website - www.irishimmigration.ie.

Added to that, the Department of Social Protection officials at the points of entry provide PPSNs which enable those arriving to access all the services that our country can offer.

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has a significant role, as part of the State's overall response, to support children and families displaced from Ukraine, as a result of the war and coming into Ireland. Tusla is committed to balancing the needs of families in a humanitarian crisis, with its child protection responsibilities, and requirement to support families and promote the welfare of children.

Tusla has always been available to come to a port to assist immigration authorities where a separated child seeking international protection arrives in the State. Tulsa has been advised that 88% of all Ukrainians are arriving in Ireland through Dublin Airport and has a Social Worker present at Dublin Airport providing a duty service from 10am until 2am the following day. The social worker will ensure all State authorities at the airport are aware of the referral process for child protection concerns and (ii) assist with screening for indicators of potential child trafficking.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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320. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he will become involved in the organisation of facilities and services for children and the parents of children and refugees of the war in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15675/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I can confirm that accommodation is being made available by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of my Department to those Ukrainian refugees in need of accommodation. IPAS is scaling up its operations as the number of arrivals increase.

My Department is currently sourcing accommodation from hotels and guesthouses. It has also engaged with the Association of Missionaries and Religious of Ireland, the Defence Forces, the Health Services Executive (HSE) and higher education institutions to identify buildings that could potentially be repurposed for use to accommodate refugees.

Local Authorities have completed a survey for the Department of Housing of buildings in their local areas that could be repurposed for this purpose. My Department is working actively with the Department of Housing and the City and County Management Association to extend the supply of buildings with the potential to accommodate refugees.

We appreciate that many people may wish to make offers of accommodation to support those persons seeking temporary protection in Ireland. The Government has worked with the Red Cross to put in place a national pledge. The website is available online through registerofpledges.redcross.ie. There has been a remarkable response by the public – already there have been over 20,000 pledges received.

My Department has published a FAQ document on its website to help aid any questions people may have and more information on supports and services has been published at www.gov.ie/ukraine.