Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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1069. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection 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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1070. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the planning assessments that are being carried out in respect of employment and social protection given the arrival of Ukrainian refugees. [30496/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1069, 1070, 1379, 1380, 459, 460, 926 and 927 together.

On 4 March 2022, the Council of the European Union unanimously adopted the implementing decision regarding the Temporary Protection Directive.  This means that people arriving in Ireland from Ukraine under the Temporary Directive have been granted the status to avail of income supports from my Department.

The Department of Social Protection has an excellent record in reacting quickly and appropriately to emergency situations, as was demonstrated in the Department's response to the Covid-19 pandemic crisis. 

A reception centre was quickly established in Dublin Airport where officials from my Department and the Department of Justice were available to meet people fleeing the war in Ukraine.  Three dedicated Ukraine Support Centres were also established.  The reception facility is now operating at City West Convention Centre where officials from the Department of Justice, the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth are available to meet arrivals from Ukraine.  This centre is open 7 days a week.

Anyone who does not arrive through Dublin Airport can call into the Department’s dedicated City Centre Ukraine Support Centres, located in Dublin, Cork and Limerick, or into local Intreo Centres or Branch Offices where staff will help them to apply for a PPSN and income supports.

The priority for my Department is the allocation of PPSNs and the provision of immediate financial supports.  A fast-track approach in processing these supports is in place which includes a simplified decision-making process and quick processing of PPSNs to allow access to public services.  

Up to and including 12th June the Department of Social Protection has allocated 37,328 Public Personal Service Numbers (PPSNs) to people who have arrived in Ireland having fled the war in Ukraine.  Just over 18,500 income support claims have been awarded across various social welfare schemes supporting almost 32,600 people and 7,900 Child Benefit claims have been processed in respect of 11,687 children.

A dedicated section on www.jobsireland.ie, has been developed to provide information on employment opportunities for newly arrived Ukrainians.  This is available in Ukrainian and Russian.

Intreo staff are also attending information events organised by Education and Training Boards, Local Development Companies and Chambers of Commerce at which they provided information on the full range of income and employment support services.

Since mid-April my Department has organised employment support engagement events for Ukrainians to gather information on their education and skills and to provide information on vacancies and jobs.  These events are taking place in locations throughout the country in accommodation centres and in Intreo Offices.  These events will continue over the coming weeks.

Up to and including Friday 10th June, 9,083 persons have attended these events which are being organised specifically for Ukrainians.  The full range of Intreo employment services is also available to Ukrainians.

The Department is also working closely with education and training boards to facilitate access to relevant training supports, including English language training.

I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.