Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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349. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of outstanding payments for commercial accommodation for Ukrainian refugees (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5341/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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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. Any delays in making payments are deeply regretted and my Department is according this issue very high priority.

I am advised by my officials that payment has issued for November regarding the party referred to. Payments in respect of December, January and February have been processed with payment to issue shortly.