Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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459. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the Government has undertaken an assessment of needs created by the arrival of Ukrainian refugees; and the contingency planning that is in place. [30495/22]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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460. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the planning assessments that are being carried out in relation to housing given the arrival of Ukrainian refugees. [30496/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 459 and 460 together.

The Government has recently established a dedicated Cabinet Committee, chaired by An Taoiseach, to oversee and coordinate the Ukraine humanitarian response, including accommodation and supports for for persons arriving in Ireland from the conflict in Ukraine. 

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (D/CEDIY) is leading the initial humanitarian response, including providing emergency and longer-term accommodation and related supports. My Department is supporting this work, focusing on solutions to the longer-term accommodation challenges, and is leading cross-government efforts through a Housing Taskforce established by the Government for this purpose.

The Taskforce is examining options under three headings: rapid delivery volumetric accommodation; use of vacant public and private buildings as multi-occupancy accommodation; and measures to stimulate and accelerate construction of new permanent build homes.

The Office of Public Works is leading on the modular or volumetric accommodation solutions. While a potentially smaller piece of the overall response, it can help meet accommodation needs where other accommodation is not readily available.

I have also established an Emergency Vacant Housing Delivery Unit in the LGMA, as well as a Ukraine Accommodation Unit in my own Department, to support local authorities and public bodies in repurposing vacant public and private buildings as temporary multi-occupancy accommodation. Over 500 properties have been identified and analysed to date, with 90 or so capable of accommodating around 5,300 persons already notified to D/CEDIY. 

Local authorities have since been requested to submit further proposals for priority refurbishment of vacant buildings suitable as temporary multi-occupancy accommodation in their respective areas. The aim is to provide an initial 3,100 beds, with approximately 100 beds available in each local authority area. Further phases of this programme will follow in line with the need identified by D/CEDIY.

To meet increased demand for housing arising from the unexpected and urgent need to accommodate persons from Ukraine, I also established a Clearing House Group to examine contractual, operational and compliance matters associated with planning permissions. The Group, comprising a small number of experts, will recommend measures to address blockages and constraints to residential and student accommodation development, as well as related local infrastructure required to facilitate housing. These measures may include using emergency planning powers under the Planning and Development Acts. 

The Government is committed to the continued delivery of Housing for All. Any new accommodation developed in response to the humanitarian crisis will be separate and additional to Housing for All targets. That said, any suitable permanent accommodation delivered through these measures will be directed to social and affordable housing when the crisis resolves.