Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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406. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans for a building (details supplied), following the temporary relocation of individuals seeking international protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44973/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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From 1 January 2022, over 9,800 people have come to Ireland seeking international protection. This is in addition to the arrival of over 48,000 Ukrainians who need assistance as a result of the Ukraine crisis.

The pressure to accommodate circa 45,000 people since the start of 2022 has led to significant shortages particularly for the international protection cohort.

Due to the unprecedented demand, accommodation all around the country have been utilised to accommodate applicants on an emergency basis.

The accommodation centre at North Road, Finglas, Dublin 11, came into use for single male international protection applicants on 15 August 2022.

However, following a number of incidents at the centre, and in the interests of the welfare and safety of those residing there, residents were temporarily relocated to alternative accommodation at the Citywest transit hub on the 19 and 20 August 2022.

IPAS has paused the use of the facility and is considering options in relation to the continued use of the facility as an accommodation centre. Any future use of the centre will also be informed by the views of the local community.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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407. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his response to a request by a group (details supplied) to urgently resource welfare and integration supports available to refugees in line with the increasing needs for these resources. [45121/22]

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.

My Department’s role is focused on the immediate, short-term accommodation needs of those who have fled here. To date, more than 48,000 people have arrived in Ireland and in excess of 37,000 of those have been referred to us seeking accommodation from the State.

Other areas within my Department are also actively supporting arrivals from Ukraine and their integration. The Early Years Division has taken responsibility for a number of actions supporting Ukrainian parents and children, allowing them to access preschool and ensuring children’s wellbeing. These actions have included the development and translation of introductory information on the Irish early learning and care sector. A capacity analysis across the country identified vacant preschool places and work is ongoing to match children to the vacant places and to create additional early childhood care and education (ECCE) places, where possible, in areas of high demand. Information on the access and inclusion model for children with disabilities accessing preschool has been translated into Ukrainian and Russian.

Tusla has also put additional staff into its services around educational welfare too in order to support the work of linking students to school places.

The operational challenges brought about by responding to the conflict are significant and all Departments and agencies play a role with many of their efforts focused on meeting the welfare needs of those arriving and on their integration into communities. As a country, we have responded well to assist those relocating to Ireland from the conflict in Ukraine, and we will continue to do so working across Government, with agencies, with those in the Local Government sector and with communities. The cross-government response is being led by officials within the Department of an Taoiseach.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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408. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his response to a request by a group (details supplied) to immediately establish a refugee agency, as per the White Paper Recommendations on Ending Direct Provision. [45122/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Government made a commitment in the Programme for Government to end the current system of accommodation for International Protection applicants and replace it with a new model that is based on a not for profit approach. As part of this process, I published A White Paper to end Direct Provision and to Establish a new International Protection Support Serviceon 26 February 2021. This paper sets out a new approach for accommodating applicants that seek International Protection in Ireland and will replace the current system.

As part of the implementation process, the White Paper indicates that further analysis will be carried out, during the transition period, on what the optimal delivery vehicle for the new service might be in the longer term. Given the nature of the service, this will include consideration of the establishment of an independent body in the form of a new statutory agency of DCEDIY to provide the service.

A process to review timelines for implementation of the White Paper is currently underway and will take account of both the delays that have arisen as a consequence of the crisis in Ukraine and the impact of the substantial increase in the numbers seeking international protection. One element of future work will be to look in more detail at the question of whether or not an agency should be established to manage this area of work.