Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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550. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if new recruitment is underway in bodies which fall under the remit of her Department to provide support teams to work with incoming refugees from Ukraine; the categories being recruited; and if they will be recruited into standard grades within the public service or in some other manner. [15881/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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There is a coordinated whole-of-Government response to the Ukraine crisis. My Department is not undertaking any specific recruitment for support teams for refugees. As the Deputy will be aware, the reception and integration arrangements for those arriving from Ukraine are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

The EU Temporary Protection Directive (2001/55/EC) has been activated in response to the Ukraine crisis. Ireland participates in this measure, which is given legal effect under Section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015.

Those eligible for Temporary Protection (granted initially for one year, but renewable) will have immediate access to the labour market, social welfare, accommodation and other State supports as necessary. A whole-of-Government response is being mobilised to implement the practical arrangements to give effect to these commitments.

My Department is responsible for immigration controls and permissions at Dublin Airport. Immigration duties at all other airports and ports of entry to the State are the responsibility of the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).

So far, approximately 80 per cent of people who have entered the State having fled Ukraine have been welcomed at Dublin Airport. As a result of the large numbers of Ukrainians arriving via Dublin Airport beneficiaries of temporary protection are being provided with their permission letter on arrival in the 'one-stop-shop' established by my Department for that purpose, to ensure early access to all necessary supports. The facility is staffed by officials from my own Department, with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) contracted to provide interpretation and other orientation supports for new arrivals.

Three Ukraine Support Centres have been established by the Department of Social Protection in Dublin 8, Cork City and Limerick. There, people can also receive assistance from the Department of Social Protection to obtain PPSN numbers, social welfare income supports, and to receive referrals to other State services. Staff from my Department are onsite in the centre in Cork Street, Dublin 8 to provide temporary protection permission letters. Arrangements are also being put in place that will allow people to obtain their permission letters from the Ukraine Support Centres in Cork City and in Limerick. Further details on this will be announced shortly.

Approximately 10,000 temporary protection permission letters have been issued by my Department since the EU Directive was activated on 4 March.

Representatives from the Citizens Information Service are also available in the Ukraine Support Centres to help people from Ukraine with enquiries of a more general nature. Community Welfare Officers are also present to assist with applications for financial support. Interpretation services are available at the Centres.

Any person arriving from Ukraine can also attend any of the Department of Social Protection's Intreo Centres, located around the country, to register for a PPS Number and apply for income supports.

A centralised Government information portal is available at: www.gov.ie/ukraine, which is regularly updated. My Department’s Irish Immigration website also contains a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, which can be viewed at: www.irishimmigration.ie/faqs-for-ukraine-nationals-and-residents-of-ukraine/.