John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1961. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons admitted to Ireland from Ukraine as beneficiaries of temporary protection in direct provision on 1 January in each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025; the total number of beneficiaries of temporary protection on the same date each year; the ongoing trend in relation to the numbers benefiting from direct protection; her policy in relation to the rationalisation of the number of centres providing direct provision to Ukrainians; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21131/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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According to the Department of Justice, the cumulative total number of persons granted temporary protection status on 1 January for the years 2023, 2024, and 2025 is outlined below. The number of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in DCEDIY state provided accommodation on 1 January for each of those years is also provided. The numbers are specific to those dates.

As a result, my Department has worked to consolidate and rationalise its BOTP accommodation portfolio to ensure greater compliance with standards and better value for money. In 2024, 420 contracts ended, releasing around 15,000 beds, the majority of which returned to the tourism sector.

At present, the ending of contracts and subsequent relocation of people from State-contracted accommodation, has been temporarily paused in cases where this is contractually possible. It is expected that further consolidation of the accommodation portfolio will take place later this year.

The Deputy should be aware that my Department's responsibility for providing access to accommodation for BOTPs is to move to the Department of Justice as part of a Transfer of Functions with effect from 1st May 2025.

John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1962. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of direct provision centres for Ukrainians in use at present, broken down according to accommodation size as follows: centres that can accommodate 0-50, 51-100, 101 to 150, 151 - 200, 201 - 250, 251-300; and above 300; the decrease in the number of such centres since 1 January 2024; the cost associated with running these centres; the steps being taken to reduce these costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21132/25]

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.

Since 14 March 2024, people fleeing Ukraine who have chosen to come to Ireland and then sought access to State-contracted accommodation can only remain there for 90 days. As part of the 90-day policy, those arriving are accommodated at Designated Accommodation Centres (DACs). Any person availing of State-contracted accommodation for this period is also provided with intensive supports to assist them source independent accommodation.

In addition, since September 2024, all full board accommodation hosting BOTPs has been designated as DACs.

At present, the Department has 178 contracts in place in relation to the DACs, broken down according to accommodation size as follows:

Our occupancy in commercial accommodation peaked at over 59,000 BOTPs towards the end of 2023 but has declined consistently since due to the reduced rate of arrival and the extent to which BOTPs have made separate arrangements. This shows the extent to which the expenditure in 2024 fell over that of 2023. The 2025 allocation reflects the expectation of further reduction in costs.

As the demand for accommodation for BOTPs decreases, and they make their own independent arrangements for accommodation, the Department is carrying vacancies in commercial contracts. As a result, the Department ends contracts on a regular basis in order to ensure value for money and greater oversight of the portfolio.

Since April 2024, approximately 157 full board contracts, including DACs, have ended for emergency accommodation. In some cases this was initiated by the providers in order to return to the private sector, or to offer their accommodation for other uses.