Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

131. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason a homeowner (details supplied) who has made their property available to accommodate Ukrainian refugees has not received financial support from the State despite having supplied the relevant invoices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3516/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department has engaged over 700 properties to provide accommodation for Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. In line with my Department’s commitment to substantially clear the backlog at the end of 2022, the Department temporarily re-assigned staff from other parts of the Department to the payments team in December, doubling the size of the payments unit. The enlarged team approved more than 100 million euros worth of payments.

My Department is prioritising maintaining a practice of more timely payments, including providing more resources to address any issues. We regret any delays in making payments and are according this issue very high priority.

I am informed by my officials that payments in respect of the party referred to are in hand with payments expected to issue shortly once they have passed final checks.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

132. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if County Donegal is still under review in relation to accommodating the needs of additional Ukrainian refugees; and if not, if it is now open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3526/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is procuring and allocating accommodation in County Donegal for the purposes of providing shelter to those fleeing the war in Ukraine. My Department did respect a request from the Local Authority in Donegal to introduce a pause on allocating Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection in the aftermath of the tragedy in Creeslough with services focused on the response at that time. The pause was lifted some weeks ago and officials in the procurement division within my Department are engaging with Donegal County Council in regard to accommodation.

I wish to thank the many individuals, volunteers, community groups and the Local Authority in Co. Donegal who have contributed so much as part of the humanitarian response to welcoming those fleeing the war in Ukraine.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

133. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of contracts that have been entered into by his Department in relation to the accommodation of Ukrainian refugees since October 2022, on a weekly basis, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3527/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As of 22 January 2023, the number of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection who have been accommodated by my Department is approximately 54,000. The information requested has been extracted from our systems, is available monthly and is outlined in tabular form below.

BOTP Accommodation Contracts Procured by Month since October 2022.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

134. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason his Department has responded to an offer of accommodation from a person (details supplied); if this statement is accurate for all offers of accommodation from County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3528/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department respected a request from the Local Authority in Donegal to introduce a pause on accommodating Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection in the aftermath of the tragedy in Creeslough with services focused on the response at that time. The pause was lifted some weeks ago and officials in the procurement division within my Department are engaging with Donegal County Council in regard to accommodation.

I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is once again procuring and allocating accommodation in County Donegal for the purposes of providing shelter to those fleeing the war in Ukraine.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

135. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of offers of accommodation on a commercial basis that have been made to house Ukrainian refugees in County Donegal; the number of these applications that have been approved by IPAS; the number of applications that are yet to be approved; the total number of Ukrainian refugees that could be housed in County Donegal if the accommodation offered was availed of; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3529/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department has received approximately 300 offers of accommodation in Donegal.

Some of these did not meet our criteria, which include amongst others the potential impact on the local private rental market. In the case of houses, only those which can comfortably accommodate a minimum of 15 people are considered- these are generally houses with a minimum of 6 bedrooms. Offers which rely on grouping private houses together to reach the 15 bed threshold 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 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection.

Furthermore, the accommodation must meet the Department of Housing standards applicable to 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 no guarantee that my Department will contract for every property offered.

Approximately 130 Donegal offers have resulted in contracts being signed.

Of those yet to be evaluated, we are giving priority to assessing those which have been submitted via our updated MS forms offers portal. There are 275 beds in Donegal in the latter category.

The nature of the offer process is such that we do not generate metrics around offers which have not been taken further. Therefore, it is not possible to answer the final part of the Deputy's question.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

136. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of Ukrainian refugees that have been settled In County Donegal since October 2022 broken down on a weekly basis, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3530/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As of 22 January 2023, the number of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection who have been accommodated by my Department is approximately 54,000. The information requested with regard to Donegal has been extracted from our systems and outlined in tabular form below.