Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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1434. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will arrange for the relocation on humanitarian grounds of two Ukrainian citizens in State-funded accommodation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38503/23]

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 92,000 arrivals fleeing the war in Ukraine that have been granted temporary protection, approximately 80% of whom 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.

The accommodation provided to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine by this Department is temporary in its nature, and given the number of people that are being accommodated it is not possible to develop tailored solutions for individuals or families. In seeking to address immediate accommodation needs, safety and security are the paramount considerations.

Where medical issues are raised, my Department works with the HSE on the basis of a protocol which sets out the priority cases for medical moves.

All requests to relocate on medical grounds must be sent to my Department at UkraineTempAccom@equality.gov.ie.