Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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439. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department is no longer undertaking commercial letting agreements for housing of Ukrainian refugees (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61741/22]

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 is focused on the immediate, short-term accommodation needs of those who have fled here. To date, more than 66,000 people have arrived in Ireland and in excess of 48,000 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, a broad range of accommodation types have been contracted, including emergency accommodation.

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

When considering offers of individual homes as commercial accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs), my Department has regard to the potential impact on the local private rental market. Only houses which can comfortably accommodate a minimum of 15 people are considered, these are generally houses with a minimum of 6 bedrooms. Offers of a number of houses, which together total at least 15 bed spaces, are not accepted, as this removes housing from the local property market. My Department will make an exception to this rule in the case of owners of holiday home villages, where the entire development will be considered for contract for accommodation for BOTPs.

In addition, the accommodation must meet the Department of Housing standards for accommodation for homeless people. For example, a 3 bedroom house where the owner proposed to install bunk beds and not to provide any shared recreational space is unlikely to meet the standards. My officials in considering an offer also consider the local amenities available, including ease of transport to schools and shops. There is therefore no guarantee that my Department will contract for every property offered.

My Department is reviewing all commercial accommodation offers on hand. Consideration of offers is prioritised based on the capacity available, but all suitable offers will be considered.

Offers of rooms in shared pledged accommodation can be made to the Irish Red Cross and offers of unoccupied homes can be made to the new Government and Local Authority "offer a home" call. Those offering such assistance can benefit from the Governments accommodation recognition payment.