Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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1736.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason beneficiaries of temporary protection fleeing the war in Ukraine were moved from a facility (details supplied); if consideration was given to children who were attending local schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30972/24]

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 them to make longer term independent arrangements if they decide to remain in Ireland.

My Department aims to ensure that our 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 greater compliance with standards and better value for money.

My Department has decided to prioritise ending contracts with non-compliant providers as part of this consolidation. While I cannot go into detail on specific compliance cases, compliance issues include but are not limited to:

• The health, safety and wellbeing of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection in state-supported emergency accommodation.
• Overcharging by providers for the provision of their accommodation.
• Unregulated secondary properties that were being utilised by providers.
• Private and residential properties that were being utilised and retained by the Department when further commercial properties were available.

Every effort will be made to keep BOTPs as local as possible, however, given the number of moves that will take place over the next few months, this is not always possible. Due to the scale involved, the only factors that can be considered when allocating follow-on accommodation are HSE assessed medical needs. It is not possible to take other issues such as employment or school places into account when allocating follow-on accommodation. Where possible, moves will be scheduled by the Department for the summer months to reduce disruption to children attending schools. Unfortunately, this may not be possible in all cases. All accommodation provided by my Department is temporary, and BOTPs are informed of this when they request accommodation from the State.

Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection are entitled to make their own private arrangements including potentially availing of pledged accommodation if they wish, and can avail of some supports to do so. Those wishing to avail of pledged accommodation in any given area should contact the Local Authority in that area or the Irish Red Cross pledge process. The Irish Red Cross can be contacted by email at registerofpledges@redcross.ie or by phoning 1800 50 70 70.

BOTPS may also explore private rented accommodation either through their own means or with the assistance of Rent Supplement, if eligible. Rent Supplement is a means-tested payment administered by the Department of Social Protection to help meet the cost of private rented accommodation. Their local Department of Social Protection office may be able to provide further information relating to Rent Supplement. Contact details for the local offices can be found on gov.ie (Intreo centres and local branch offices).

I would like to take this opportunity to thank accommodation providers for their contribution to Ireland’s response to this humanitarian crisis. Commercial accommodation providers contracted to my Department have played a valuable part in supporting this response.