Written answers
Wednesday, 12 October 2022
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Ukraine War
Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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109. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the role that her Department has played in the integration of Ukrainian refugees into communities; if her Department and any agencies under her remit have had an involvement at local or national level in the response; the further steps that her Department intends on taking to ensure that services are provided to assist with same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50522/22]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department is committed to providing people fleeing the war in Ukraine who have been granted Temporary Protection status the supports and services, including income supports and employment services, needed to assist with integration into their new communities.
The priority for my Department is to make payments as quickly as possible and to put arrangements in place to pay the most appropriate social welfare to people arriving from Ukraine. A fast-track approach in processing these supports is in place which includes dedicated teams of staff, a simplified decision-making process and quick processing of PPSNs to allow access to public services.
As of 10 October 2022, my Department has issued over 57,000 PPS numbers to individuals under the Temporary Protection Directive. My Department has processed over 27,000 income support claims, with payments being made in respect of 28,000 adults and 14,000 children. In addition my Department has processed over 10,500 claims for Child Benefit. My Department’s means tested supplementary Welfare service is also available under the Community Welfare Service in the Intreo Centres which includes Additional Needs payments.
The Public Employment Service which operates through the Department’s network of Intreo Centres is also available to help people arriving from Ukraine as they seek employment in the Irish labour market. Since April, Intreo Employment Services have been engaging with people from Ukraine on a one-to-one basis, either in their local Intreo Centre or on an outreach basis at employment support events specifically for people covered by the Temporary Protection Directive. As of September 30th, employment services staff have engaged with 19,082 people.
My Department is working closely with education and training boards to facilitate access to relevant training supports, including English language training and training initiatives for particular sectors or roles.
My Department also actively participates on the Community Response Fora, established under the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme, in each Local Authority Area to coordinate local measures to welcome people coming to Ireland under the Temporary Protection Directive.
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