Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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133. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a commercial offer of accommodation for Ukrainian refugees (details supplied) has been examined by IPAS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53658/22]

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 34,000 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 550 settings including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings.

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

The Department does not enter into commercial arrangements for individual private houses or apartments. These properties presently can be pledged to the Irish Red Cross via their online pledge system at registerofpledges.redcross.ie/#/, and there is a €400/month accommodation recognition payment available from Government for those who pledge accommodation.

For commercial properties, for logistical efficiency reasons, my Department requires a minimum of 15 bed spaces to proceed with a review of an offer of accommodation. If this is the case, the procurement division can be contacted directly at Ukraineaccommodation@equality.gov.ie.

I trust this information is of assistance.