Written answers

Wednesday, 29 June 2022

Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Ukraine War

Photo of Aodhán Ó RíordáinAodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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129. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider putting in place a supplementary vetting or registration process for families that have made informal arrangements to take in Ukrainian or other refugees outside of the Departmental and Red Cross formal process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34724/22]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine on February 24, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on meeting the immediate, temporary accommodation needs of those fleeing the conflict.

My Department is focused on the immediate, short-term accommodation needs of those who have fled here. To date, more than 38,000 people have arrived in Ireland and just in excess of 28,000 of those have been referred to this Department seeking accommodation from the State.

The short-term accommodation provided has comprised hotels, guest houses and B&Bs, as well as accommodation pledged by the general public, religious properties, and local authority facilities.

Although the vast majority of those arriving in Ireland seek the State's assistance with accommodation needs, at all times it remains the prerogative of individuals to enter into private accommodation arrangements. These arrangements are however made at the responsibility of the individuals involved. Further, as they are private arrangements the State has no role to play in vetting, registering or assessing any aspect of the offer being made, nor does the State have any legal basis for collecting data in these circumstances.

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