Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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506. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he intends to increase the accommodation recognition payment for households accommodating Ukrainian refugees given the increase in the cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53109/22]

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 54,000 people have arrived in Ireland and in excess of 43,000 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, my Department has contracted in excess of 33,000 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 500 settings including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings.

The priority is to place people fleeing the conflict in safe and secure accommodation.

The Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 provides that a review of the level of the accommodation recognition payment may be conducted by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in consultation with the Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. I intend to undertake this review in light of the challenges being experienced with accommodation supply.

The Act also provides that before changing the level of payment the Minister shall have regard to the likely effect of changed amount on—

(a) the number of persons who avail of the financial contribution, including where the scheme termination date is extended,

(b) the number of temporary protection beneficiaries to whom accommodation is provided by persons under the scheme, and

(c) the cost to the Exchequer of the payment of financial contributions.

The Act specifically precludes the Minister from have regard to the costs to hosts providing accommodation to temporary protection beneficiaries.

The payment is a recognition for providing accommodation to beneficiaries and was never intended to cover all costs incurred by the hosts.

I trust this information is of assistance.