Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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410. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if hubs that are accommodating persons who have fled Ukraine will continue to be paid if these persons return to the borders of Ukraine for less than a two-week period to collect belongings and who continue to get paid by the Department of Social Protection, conditional on their room or rooms being retained for them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31649/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine on 24 February, and the invoking of the temporary protection Directive by the European Union shortly afterwards, my Department has worked intensively as part of the cross-governmental response.

The operational challenges brought about by responding to the conflict are significant and my Department’s role is focused on the immediate, short-term accommodation needs of those who have fled Ukraine. To date, more than 34,000 people have arrived in Ireland and just in excess of 25,000 of those have been referred to us seeking accommodation from the State.

Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe for all those who require it remains immensely challenging. Given the ongoing demand on limited resources, with new arrivals to the State every day, it has not been possible to date, to guarantee that vacated temporary accommodation would be held, except where extenuating circumstances may have applied e.g. a hospital stay.

As we move into the next phase of this crisis, we recognise that individuals may need to absent themselves from accommodation from time to time, and for a variety of reasons. Consequently, my Department is consulting with all relevant stakeholders on the appropriate policy to apply in these circumstances.

I note that the disbursement of social welfare benefits or payments, and all relevant policies in place, are a matter for the Department of Social Protection.