Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

742. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 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. [8860/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine provided support of €750,000 in December 2022 for a one-year project administered by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The project will support highly vulnerable small-holder farmers and households in rural areas at the frontline of the illegal Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine, where the poultry sector is a significant contributor to rural livelihoods and incomes.

The project provides direct agricultural support and will positively impact food security for 1,000 smallholder rural farmers in those areas most affected by Russian aggression.

I can confirm that a request has been received from the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to identify properties under the control of my Department for the purposes of providing accommodation to international protection applicants or beneficiaries of temporary protection.

My Department has reviewed its property portfolio to identify land and buildings, and in the immediate aftermath of the invasion of Ukraine, my Department notified the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth of three properties that have the potential to be suitable for accommodation. However, extensive works would be required to make them properly habitable. Details of these three properties have been uploaded onto the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage Geo-spatial mapping database.

In addition, my Department has identified six sites that could potentially be used to meet the medium to long-term accommodation and housing requirements. Extensive ground works would be needed to prepare these sites for construction projects, as they are currently used for agricultural purposes and do not currently have the required services necessary to support residential needs.

I am very supportive of Minister O’Gorman’s efforts to ensure that Ireland continues to meet its international and humanitarian obligations and my Department continues to work with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in this regard.

As regards the 12 State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information requested is an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Agencies and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days.