Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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136. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the steps he is taking regarding the long-term accommodation and integration of Ukrainian refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36286/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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While the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) continues to lead the initial humanitarian response, including the provision of accommodation and related supports to aid persons arriving in Ireland from the conflict in Ukraine, my Department is continuing to support the wider, cross-Government response in a number of ways.

My Department continues to be an integral part of the dedicated Cabinet Committee, as established by the Irish Government. This Cabinet Committee oversees and coordinates the Ukraine humanitarian response, including accommodation and supports for persons arriving in Ireland from the conflict in Ukraine. 

My Department has continued to work with DCEDIY around the Emergency Refurbishment (Ukraine) project and supporting the specific accommodation needs particularly in respect of multi-occupancy vacant properties that may be suitable and available for use as accommodation, subject to refurbishment being carried out.

My Department continues in its review of those properties identified by Local Authorities as potentially viable for refurbishment for the use of multi-occupancy accommodation for the purposes of accommodating Ukrainians. The process is ongoing to identify, examine and validate buildings that could be refurbished to accommodate larger groups of people with buildings now at differing stages of process i.e. analysis & approval in principle; surveying, costing and design and final decision.

Again with regard to the query on integration, the DCEDIY have the overarching responsibility for the provisions of services and integration, with the support of the Local Government sector.

That said, my Department has supported this activity by requesting that each Local Authorities identify a lead Director of Service or equivalent level who could be dedicated to coordinating the local response on a full-time basis supported by a temporary support team. These dedicated resources work as part of the Community Response Forum and also lead the co-ordination of the provision of supports and services to Ukrainians at a local level by the range of public and not-profit bodies involved.