Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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217. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade what measures are being taken to support Ukraine's repair, recovery and reconstruction, in coordination with international partners, and specifically in relation to the demining process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49938/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 217 together.

The first international donor conference dedicated to the humanitarian demining of Ukraine was co-organised by the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Government of Ukraine in Zagreb on 11 - 12 October 2023. Ireland was represented by our Ambassador to Croatia.

I welcome that participants sent a clear message that Ukraine can count on our broad support as it defends itself against Russia’s ongoing aggression, including with regard to post-war humanitarian demining, which is an indispensable requirement for the reconstruction of Ukrainian infrastructure, the return of the displaced Ukrainian population, and the resumption of normal economic and agricultural activity.

The conference highlighted the grave situation facing Ukraine in terms of reconstruction and recovery. Ukraine is currently one of the most mined and weapons contaminated countries in the world. It is estimated that approximately 174,000 km of Ukrainian territory is covered in mines. Humanitarian demining will be a complex, demanding, long-term problem, with estimated costs currently in excess of $37 billion.

Ireland, through funding to the International Committee of the Red Cross, is supporting Explosive Ordnance Risk Education programmes in Ukraine. The primary role of these programmes is to ensure that the affected population are safer in the face of the enormous risks posed by unexploded weapons and landmines. The ICRC is also engaged in capacity building with the State Emergency Services and Police bomb disposal and mine clearance teams.

As part of the European Union Military Assistance Mission Ukraine, and together with partners, the Defence Forces have to date delivered two Demining & Clearance training modules to members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Cyprus.

Unfortunately, demining is just one of the many aspects of the extensive reconstruction work that will be necessary in the coming years. Estimates by the World Bank indicate at least US$411 billion will be needed, however the expected costs will continue to rise, in the context of ongoing Russian attacks on critical infrastructure, the continued widespread use of mines and the immense ecological damage caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam.

While the current focus of funding is on meeting immediate financing and short-term recovery needs, a series of International Conferences have also focused on putting in place the necessary structures and mechanisms for a successful longer-term reconstruction effort, including most recently the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2023, which I attended in London last June.

It will be important to engage not only Governments and International Organisations, but also civil society and the private sector in the reconstruction effort. Ireland is supportive of these efforts, and has consistently underlined that investments aligned with the EU reform agenda will be key to supporting Ukraine's future EU accession.

At the EU level, Ireland is engaged in negotiations to agree on a new €50 billion Ukraine Facility. The Ukraine Facility aims to assist Ukraine over a four-year period from 2024-27 to continue paying wages and pensions, maintain essential public services, ensure macroeconomic stability, but also to restore critical infrastructure destroyed by Russia.

In September, I was pleased to announce a further €23 million in humanitarian and institutional support for Ukraine and Moldova. As part of this announcement, €1.5 million was allocated to UNHCR to support their “core homes” project. This project consists of the construction of pre-fabricated core homes for families whose properties were entirely destroyed due to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The homes are installed on the private land of the family concerned, allowing them to remain on their own property and maintain links to their communities, services, and employment. Ireland’s contribution will allow for an additional 75 homes to be installed for families in the Kyiv region.

Ireland will continue to engage at bilateral, EU and multilateral levels to work towards the effective long-term reconstruction of Ukraine.