Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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111. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide details on his Department's plans to close accommodation sites in County Clare which are currently housing Ukrainian war refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26340/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, my Department continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing the conflict who request it, in line with Government policy. This supports BOTPs to make longer term independent arrangements if they decide to remain in Ireland. As this is a temporary support, there is an onus on my Department to ensure that its portfolio of accommodation meets the evolving needs of the State’s response to the Ukraine Crisis.

In recent months we have seen decreases in arrivals from Ukraine to Ireland, decreases in those arriving who request accommodation from the State and greater numbers of Ukrainians who choose to move on from State accommodation. As a result, my Department is currently seeking to consolidate and rationalise its BOTP accommodation portfolio to ensure value for money and greater oversight.

My Department is making decisions to end commercial contracts across the country, which will include sites in County Clare, in accordance with contractual terms and conditions agreed with providers, on the basis of financial, administrative, other accommodation management reasons or at the request of the accommodation provider.

It is expected that a significant number of contracts will end across the country over the next months, and my Department will try to schedule moves for the summer months to minimise disruption to the school year if possible.

While my Department acknowledges that this will result in significant numbers of people moving over the next number months, all accommodation arrangements provided by the State are temporary in nature. Any BOTP who is considering staying longer term in Ireland is regularly encouraged to make their own independent arrangements for accommodation using the options available to them such as pledged or Offer a Home properties, or to rent privately using supports such as rent supplement if eligible, or their salaries when they are in employment.

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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112. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will clarify several queries (details supplied) in relation to the changes to social welfare payments for Ukrainian refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26344/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Last month, the Government agreed that Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection in state-provided serviced accommodation should receive the same level of payment regardless of when they arrived.

The Minister for Social Protection and I, and our officials are liaising on the operational arrangements to give effect to this change, with an estimated 12 week lead-in time to allow details to be finalised and notice to be provided to the people affected.

This change will apply to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection in designated fully serviced accommodation in receipt of any of the Department of Social Protection’s social assistance schemes. However, they will continue to have an entitlement to Child Benefit and to Additional Needs Payments, subject to the normal eligibility criteria.

Details of the operational arrangements giving effect to the change have yet to be finalised, and will be made available in due course, including the matters to which the Deputy refers in details supplied.