Minister of State Joe O’Brien has said that the Government cannot continue as it has been doing - “trying to scurry around” to find accommodation for people continuing to arrive in Ireland fleeing the war in Ukraine.
Mr O’Brien told RTÉ radio’s News at One that it was his understanding that a draft memo had been proposed. “I haven't seen the specifics that's in it. There is a process where officials from different departments are talking to each other about what's doable and what's not doable.
“But I suppose the bottom line is we can't really continue as we have been in terms of how, in particular my department, the Department of Children and the officials there, have been trying to scurry around to find accommodation when we have 700 people continuing to come in."
The Green Party TD added: “Our offering is open ended. There's no time limit on it, and that's actually out of kilter with the rest of Europe as well. But it's important to say, and if the public probably don't realise this, but during the summer, at the end of the summer, we came very close to not having any accommodation of any kind, for quite a large number of Ukrainians who have been staying here, who had to move out of student accommodation that we were using temporarily.
“And we've come to a number of very close pinch points over the last 18 months, but particularly this year where we are staring down the possibility of Ukrainians not having any accommodation. So we don't want to get to that point. Okay. But we have to grasp the nettle and adapt and redesign the system so that we can in the medium term continue to fulfil and continue to welcome Ukrainians here.”
90-day cap
Mr O’Brien said it was not his understanding that there would be a 90-day cap on State provided accommodation for people arriving from Ukraine.
Different options were being examined, particularly for people in vulnerable situations.
There were a number of strands of options available, he said. “There are quite a few pledged properties available at the moment. Just in the last week we've had 250 people moved into properties. That's a small amount in terms of what's coming in at the moment, but that is an option. For example, it's important to say as well, there are 25,000 Ukrainians who are not in state provided accommodation and are in accommodation that they're sourcing themselves as well.
"But a lot of this has to be worked out and that's why we need all the government departments around the table and giving their feedback in terms of how it would impact them and how we change the offer for a more sustainable one that will last to the medium term.”
Mr O’Brien also said there were several reasons why people from Ukraine were arriving in Ireland from other European countries. Some may come because they already had family here, others for the employment opportunities.
