Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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433. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35294/22]

Roderic 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.

Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe for all those who require it remains immensely challenging. Due to the urgent need to source accommodation, a broad range of accommodation types have been contracted, including emergency accommodation. While this is not ideal, the priority is to place people fleeing the conflict in safe and secure accommodation.

Numbers seeking international protection have also increased adding to accommodation capacity issues.

The accommodation provided to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine by my Department is temporary in its nature, and given the number of people that are being accommodated it is not possible to develop tailored solutions for individuals or families. I understand that people may wish to be accommodated in specific locations for a variety of reasons, but my Department cannot facilitate these requests at this time given the number of people wishing to be accommodated.

Beneficiaries of temporary protection are entitled to make their own private arrangements if they wish, and can avail of some supports to do so.

More information on supports available to Ukrainian people while they are in Ireland and information on how people and community groups can help can be found at the Government website: www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/bc537-irelands-response-to-the-situation-in-ukraine/.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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434. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of Ukrainian refugees being placed in pledged accommodation in March, April, May and June 2022. [35420/22]

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 to the Ukraine crisis.

The operational challenges brought about by responding to the conflict are significant. Our country has never experienced an influx of displaced persons like the one that we have seen over the past months. My Department’s role 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 in excess of 28,000 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. Due to the urgent need to source accommodation, a broad range of accommodation types have been contracted, including emergency accommodation. While this is not ideal, the priority is to place people fleeing the conflict in safe and secure accommodation.

Numbers seeking international protection have also increased adding to accommodation capacity issues.

The Government is committed to delivering a humanitarian response to welcome people seeking protection in Ireland as part of the European Union's overall response. The scale of response to this crisis has been unprecedented and Irish people have displayed an incredible level of generosity in their support and pledges of accommodation.

The Irish Red Cross has put in place a national pledge as the mechanism for channeling the offers of accommodation which many members of the public wish to provide. The website through which offers of accommodation are pledged is registerofpledges.redcross.ie.  I understand that over 25,000 offers of accommodation have been pledged by the Irish public through the Irish Red Cross (IRC).

I can confirm to the Deputy that to date, approximately 2000 people have been matched to over 700 pledged properties.

A more detailed breakdown is available below. Available figures are from April 2022 to present. 

Cumulative Figures are as follows:

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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435. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of persons employed in the International Protection Accommodation Services; and the number of these who were working on the placement of refugees in pledged accommodation as of 21 June 2022. [35421/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that the total number of persons employed in the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) currently stands at 56.

IPAS is responsible for the accommodation of international protection applicants only.