Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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727. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider a temporary extension until June to the contract with an accommodation provider (details supplied) for accommodation for people from Ukraine who are beneficiaries of temporary protection in order for them to complete their education and find alternative accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7835/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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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 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) to make longer term independent arrangements if they decide to remain in Ireland for the duration of the Temporary Protection Directive.

The need for State-support Ukraine accommodation is decreasing across the country since last year, and this means that some current accommodation centres will be closing. My Department is responding to this change and working to support people affected, some of whom may be asked to move to new accommodation.

Over 420 accommodation contracts ended in 2024 as demand reduced. Contracts may also be ending where compliance issues arise, or where the accommodation owner wishes to end or change their contract. This means many properties can return to private use, tourism or student use, and a small proportion may be used for International Protection accommodation, which is much needed at this time.

In the case of the property to which the Deputy refers, moves are currently under pause until a decision is taken with regard to the future of the property. The Department will keep residents and providers informed about next steps.

BOTPs are entitled to make their own private arrangements, including by availing of State-supported programmes, if they wish to stay in the area.

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 .

John Clendennen (Offaly, Fine Gael)
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728. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of landlords availing of the accommodation recognition payment (to provide accommodation to refugees from Ukraine) in 2024; the cost to the Exchequer in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8046/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) is a monthly payment of €800 available to those who are providing accommodation to a person or people who arrived in Ireland under the EU Temporary Protection Directive.

Please note that a person providing accommodation to BOTPs on a commercial basis is ineligible to participate in the scheme. Where a rental agreement is in place, ARP is not payable. ARP does not create a landlord and tenant relationship between the accommodation host who has qualified for the financial contribution and the Ukrainians living in the accommodation, and it does not provide an automatic right to tenancy.

Approximately €141 million issued under the scheme in 2024. As of 30 December 2024, there were 15,099 hosts in payment in respect of hosting 34,755 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) from Ukraine. Due to the nature of the scheme, the number of claimants may fluctuate over time.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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729. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of modular units constructed for international protection applicants or refugees in each of the past three years; and the total cost of delivery of these units each year. [8076/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Thank you, Deputy, for your question.

Ireland currently provides accommodation to over 33,000 people applying for international protection and has also welcomed over 114,000 people from Ukraine since 2022.

People from Ukraine are supported across the EU under the Temporary Protection Directive. The basis of applying for asylum or refugee status is fleeing war or persecution in one’s home country.

As an international protection applicant, people are entitled to shelter and support under both Irish and EU law.

2022 onward- Rapid Build Programme

In April 2022, as part of the State’s humanitarian response to the Ukrainian crisis, the Government developed a Rapid Build Housing Programme to provide accommodation for families fleeing the war in Ukraine who request it. The Office of Public Works (OPW) is leading the development of this accommodation in conjunction with my Department.

The initial ten sites, 572 units, are completed with 2,312 residents having moved into their new homes. 310 units were delivered in 2023 at 7 sites, with a further 262 units delivered at 3 sites in 2024. Works are currently ongoing at the final development at a HSE owned site in Heywood, Clonmel which has been identified as viable by OPW to accommodate 82 units. This would bring the final output of the programme to 654 units, with a final capacity of 2,640 BOTPs.

The total cost of delivery of the Rapid Build Programme in each of the last three years was as follows:

• Expenditure in 2022 was €29m
• Expenditure in 2023 was €158.7m
• Expenditure in 2024 was €66m.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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730. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider devising a multi-faceted induction, educational programme for persons who arrive in Ireland seeking international protection or as beneficiaries of the European Union's Temporary Protection Directive in order that they become familiar with access to services and education in Ireland along with cultural customs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8118/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Thank you, Deputy, for your question.

In terms of international protection applicants, we are currently accommodating over 33,000 people, over 9,000 of whom are children with their family. We accommodate people at over 320 different centres nationwide.

All residents of IPAS accommodation are provided with a dedicated IPAS Resident Handbook- this handbook contains information about Ireland, the international protection process, supports available to persons in the protection process and information about practical services like schools and community services.

The handbook is currently being revised by IPAS to ensure it is up to date and user- friendly.

The handbook is available online and in translation at the link below:

A range of other support services are provided directly to people in IPAS accommodation centres to support them to settle in, and to support them in their day to day needs while they are resident with us.

This includes an IPAS customer service team, who is available online, or at resident clinics on site, to assist people to resolve any issues that arise in their accommodation, including responding to and resolving complaints.

IPAS provides a resident welfare service, which assists residents in accessing wider needs from other agencies or Government Departments and looks at people's welfare needs, e.g. health and social care, education or other entitlements and needs.

My Department also provides funding for integration teams within each Local Authority, and a range of funding schemes for communities, to support integration of people who newly arrive to an area. The Local Authority Integration Teams provide a range of supports to both new and longer-term residents, connecting them with the wider community as a whole. More information on the work of the LAITs is available here.

Education and Training Board and other education supports are provided to people in IPAS accommodation, many of the integration and community supports provided focus on helping people to find work so that they can build independence and integrate within their communities. They also offer English language classes and further education and training to refugees, people arriving from Ukraine and eligible international protection applicants to help them to find work.

IPAS is currently experiencing an acute accommodation shortage for international protection applicants who enter the country and require accommodation. Families with children and vulnerable persons are prioritised for accommodation. All single men are offered a vulnerability triage on the day of their application for international protection.

Due to ongoing shortages of suitable accommodation, over 3,300 people who have applied for international protection since December 2023 have not been offered accommodation. In this instance, a different information resource is provided to people, in their own language, and is also explained to them by Assessment Officers from IPAS.

IPAS has grant agreements in place with a number of charitable organisations to provide direct support including food, clothing, advice and signposting to relevant services, for people who are unaccommodated by IPAS. The leaflet explains the alternative material reception conditions (enhanced daily expenses allowance) and provides information on how to access support services.

In 2023 and 2024, several funding programmes were made available in order to support integration in Ireland, including the National Integration Fund (NIF), Communities Integration Fund (CIF) and International Protection Integration Fund (IPIF). These projects have supported integration into the community; language, educational, and employment supports; and access to services.

Newly arriving Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) are given a wide range of information supports both in terms of one-to-one conversations and Departmental/Agency related documents.

All arrivals to the Citywest Transit Hub are greeted by the South Dublin Volunteer Centre team who provide assistance in directing people to the correct department depending on the reason for their visit to Citywest. If their query cannot be dealt with in Citywest the volunteer team provide them with the relevant helpdesk email address to submit their query.

New arrivals are given information by the Department of Social Protection, by the Department of Justice and by the HSE as they pass through each service. They are also assisted by International Organization for Migration (IOM) with form filling and with any queries they may have in advance of dealing with the specific departments/agencies.

Once granted Temporary Protection by the Department of Justice, any people that require access to State-supported accommodation are directed to my officials where they are assigned accommodation. The specific documents issued to by my Department at this point are:

1. Welcome Letter: The purpose of the letter is to explain the support being provided once TP has been granted i.e. provision of accommodation.
2. The Exemption Letter: This is issued to BOTPs who are exempt from the 90- day accommodation policy introduced in March 2024.
3. DSP Pack: This is given to BOTPs assigned to 90-day DACs to claim income support