Written answers

Wednesday, 30 March 2022

Department of Education and Skills

International Protection

Photo of Rose Conway-WalshRose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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101. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the anticipated number of Ukrainian refugees that will need to be accommodated within both the further and higher education systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17106/22]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that as many Ukrainian refugees arriving in Ireland are traumatised, the Government's priority is to provide sanctuary and immediate supports such as food and housing. Therefore, only limited data is gathered by the Irish Visa Authorities, and as such, there is no available data on the number of students arriving in Ireland.

However, through engagements between officials from my Department and higher education representative associations, I understand a number of Ukrainian students have approached Irish Universities and Institutes of Technology directly seeking to continue their studies.

In line with the overall Government position, my Department is working with stakeholders to put a central structure in place, which will enable a more structured response to be delivered by Higher Education Institutions. This work, which is being conducted in a very positive manner by all, is ongoing.

Photo of Rose Conway-WalshRose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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102. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if Ukrainian refugees will be treated as European Union students within the system and any implications in terms of SUSI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17107/22]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, the situation in Ukraine has developed very rapidly over the past number of weeks and events are continuing to unfold on a daily basis. In this uncertain environment, officials of my Department are continuing to gather as much information as possible in order to formulate recommendations for appropriate policy responses across a range of areas.

Displaced Ukrainian people arriving in Ireland are immediately being granted temporary protection, as set out in Section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015. The technical/legal status of these people is “beneficiaries of temporary protection under the EU Directive" and they are not classed as refugees. The Department is currently examining all student support options for incoming Ukrainian students.

In line with the overall Government position, my Department and agencies will work together to support Ukrainian and Irish students, whose studies have been affected by the invasion. I am working closely with the higher education sector to see what can be done to support them and facilitate the continuity of their studies. This work is ongoing.

Photo of Rose Conway-WalshRose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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103. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the work being carried out to mobilise student accommodation for housing Ukrainian refugees during the summer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17108/22]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will appreciate that finding accommodation for the numbers of people displaced by the war in Ukraine who are expected to come to Ireland over the coming months is challenging and all of Government is working to ensure that the refugees, many of whom are traumatized, have immediate access to basic needs such as food and shelter.

The Government response to the crisis in Ukraine has been generous and in line with the International Displaced Persons Act 2015, displaced persons fleeing from the war are entitled to access to education, the labour market and health care on the same basis as a resident Irish or EU citizen.

My officials are continuing to engage with the Irish Universities Association (IUA) in relation to the possible use of student accommodation to meet an anticipated surge of displaced persons from Ukraine arriving during the summer months.

The IUA have identified 1000 potential bed spaces in student accommodation, and this information has been shared with the Department of Children, Equality Disability, Integration and Youth.

My officials will continue to work on identifying and securing any additional potential accommodation which may be available in the sector.

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