Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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607. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether his Department has considered further utilising privately-owned modular housing developments for accommodation for Ukrainian refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31331/23]

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 intensively as part of the cross-government humanitarian response to assist over 85,000 arrivals fleeing the war in Ukraine, of which 62,000 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, my Department has contracted in excess of 49,000 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 800 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 engagement on the requirements and potential of private modular accommodation is ongoing within the context of the Accommodation Working Group which has been established by Government. Planning matters and related issues are also being reviewed in the context of this engagement. Presently a proof of concept site involving modular is being completed in Mullingar and lessons from this will be brought to bear when considering any scale up of this programme which will involve a full expressions of interest process.