Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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617. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of refugees who have been settled in County Donegal, broken down by townlands and whether they have come from Ukraine or elsewhere; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26158/23]

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 extensively as part of the whole of Government response to assist over 83,000 arrivals fleeing the war in Ukraine, of which 61,000 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, the Department has contracted in excess of 47,000 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 770 settings including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings.

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

I am advised by my officials that as of 28 May 2023, the total number of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BoTPs) accommodated by the Ukraine Crisis Temporary Accommodation Team (UCTAT) in Co. Donegal is 5,224. The below information extracted from our records provides a geographical breakdown to the extent that this is captured in our database:

I wish to advise that matters relating to place of origin of arrivals is appropriate to the Department of Justice who have responsibility for reviewing and granting Temporary Protection status.

I trust this information is of assistance.