Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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587. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the details of the supports that his Department has provided for Ukraine and for Ukrainian people since February 2022, whether in Ukraine or within the State; the number of people supported where relevant; the estimated cost and value of the support where available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8871/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The EU Temporary Protection Directive was activated by the EU Council in March 2022 in response to the Russian aggression against Ukraine. The Council Decision to activate the Directive places specific obligations on Ireland and on all EU Member States, including the duration of the temporary protection to be awarded and the State supports and services that the beneficiary should be entitled to.

Temporary Protection was granted initially for one year, but this has now been extended to March 2024. Those who are granted temporary protection here in Ireland have immediate access to the labour market, social welfare, accommodation and other State supports as necessary.

Officials from my Department assess applications made under the Temporary Protection Directive and issue a temporary protection certificate to each eligible person. The Ukraine Response Unit is located at four centres throughout the country with support from a back office team.

To date, this unit have processed circa 75,000 applications for Temporary Protection.

From March 2022 to January 2023, the expenditure on salaries (inclusive of overtime and PSRI) relating to the Ukraine response team within my Department has amounted to €2,422,334. Spending in relation to other costs, including humanitarian supplies, external contractors, office costs and IT supports brings the total spend to end January 2023, inclusive of salaries, to €5,233,637.