Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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496. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are any plans to move refugees or asylum seekers into a setting (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14712/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Ireland has responded to the largest displacement of people on the European continent since the Second World War. Since February 2022, my Department has worked to accommodate an unprecedented volume of persons seeking refuge following the invasion of Ukraine, with over 78,000 people arriving in Ireland, including 58,000 who have sought accommodation from this Department.

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, my Department has contracted in excess of 47,000 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 750 settings including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings. In addition, more than 7,000 beneficiaries have also been accommodated in pledged accommodation properties.

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

I am advised that my Department has not examined nor considered the property referred to at this time.