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, as part of the Whole of Government response my Department has worked extensively to support approximately 101,800 people who have sought temporary protection in Ireland in fleeing the war in Ukraine, over 80% of whom have sought State supported accommodation.

I also wish to draw attention to the wide ranging analysis produced by the CSO on a regular basis as part of its ‘Arrivals from Ukraine in Ireland Series. See: www.cso.ie/en/statistics/population/arrivalsfromukraineinireland

Matters relating to the number of Ukrainian refugees who are now in the State and the projected number of refugees from Ukraine expected to come to the State over the next 12 months are appropriate to the Department of Justice, who is also assisting those fleeing the war in Ukraine as part of the whole of Government response.

The Temporary Protection Directive was recently extended to 4 March 2025 and will be in place for a longer timeframe than originally envisaged at the time of the decision to activate it in March 2022.

Following extensive discussions, the Government has decided to bring Ireland more into line with other European countries in how we assist those fleeing the war in Ukraine.

Under the revised approach, newly arriving Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection from Ukraine who seek State accommodation will be provided with accommodation for a maximum of 90 days, during which time they will also receive reduced social protection payments.

The situation in relation to the availability of accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) arriving in Ireland remains challenging. My Department continually analyses the level of offers being made, the numbers which are contracted following due diligence checks and projected BOTP arrivals in the coming months.

My Department has been engaged in contingency planning in the last number of months and this will continue.