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The introduction of financial support for people in Ireland hosting refugees from Ukraine might encourage some who have withdrawn offers of accommodation to reconsider, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has said.
She said she supports the idea of bringing in financial support for host families and that the Government is exploring the matter.
Senior Government figures, including Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, have said in recent weeks that such payments are being considered.
The Irish Times reported on Thursday that more than half of the 24,000 pledges of accommodation for Ukrainian refugees have so far failed to materialise, either because the offer has been withdrawn by the property owner or they cannot be contacted.
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Ms McEntee, speaking on Thursday, said financial support might be an option “if we get to a situation where we want to encourage more people to offer up accommodation”.
She added: “We’re very aware of that there’s an increase in costs in electricity and fuel, even in food prices. So I think what we’d have to establish is how we would cover those costs.
“I don’t think anybody’s looking to make money out of this. Certainly not. It’s that we would cover those day-to-day costs.
“That’s something government has said we’d be open to and it’s something that’s been explored at the moment.”
She said she did not have a timeframe for when a decision would be made on the issue.
Asked if financial support could encourage people who have withdrawn accommodation offers to reconsider, she replied: “It might do indeed.”
She reiterated she did not believe people were looking to make money, but said the increased cost of fuel and food was something that might be putting people off, adding: “perhaps it’s something that might encourage more people, yes.”
Earlier, Minister for Integration Roderic O’Gorman said the government always anticipated that a large portion of the accommodation pledges would fail to materialise.
Mr O’Gorman said there was a huge outpouring of generosity when the war started and people were genuine in their offers of help, but it is not a suitable long-term commitment.
“I think, at the time, people thought or maybe hoped this was going to be a brief conflict and the people’s need to be supported here in Ireland would be of a short-term nature.
“It has become more and more clear that that’s not the case; that this is medium to long-term commitment and I think, certainly in terms of those who have told us they are not in a position to provide the pledged accommodation anymore, the prime reason is that people just don’t feel they can give that long-term commitment.
“That’s something we expected when the initial range of pledges came in – It’s a significant commitment,” Mr O’Gorman told Newstalk Breakfast.
“That’s why we are so grateful for those who are still maintaining their pledges. We’re not entirely surprised there has been a drop-off there.”
When asked about the Government possibly paying householders to take in refugees he said it was certainly “an issue to consider”.
“We never linked the provision of pledges with a payment and I don’t believe anyone is doing this for any reasons other than solidarity with Ukrainians having seen what is happening in that country but look it is certainly something we can consider.”
Mass indoor centres
Mr O'Gorman said that mass indoor centres for Ukrainian refugees such as the one established in Millstreet, Co Cork will become "a larger feature of how we provide for people" fleeing war in their homeland.
Mr O’Gorman said that the 70 new arrivals at Millstreet Green Glens arena who are living in partitioned accommodation with communal toilets will likely be onsite for a “number of weeks” before they source more suitable accommodation.
He told Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio 1, that the Government has contacted universities and other third level institutes to discuss using student accommodation places for refugees during the summer break.
“We are looking at sourcing other types of accommodation. We have engaged with higher education institutes across the country from the end of May. About 4,000 beds will become available and we are looking to grow that further. That will give us some flexibility coming in to the summer to accommodate people.
“That will be accommodation where people will have their own door. Some privacy. Some cooking facilities. We continue to look and see what provisions we can make for this short term accommodation.”
Mr O’Gorman admitted that group accommodation is going to become a larger feature of how we provide for refugees.
“Accommodation like Millstreet, that kind of grouped accommodation, is going to become a larger feature of how we provide for people. We have to be up-front about that. It is what is being used in many European countries from very early on in this crisis.
"If you look at how Poland and Romania have been accommodating people that have had large sports stadia decked out with camp beds from very early on in the process.
“Gormanstown is there as a contingency. Gormanstown is outdoor tents. That is there in the event that we have a day or two where there is a particularly large maybe surge in the numbers coming in on a very short terms basis.
“We have to understand that as we look to find any other locations for accommodation and as we work through pledged accommodation we do have to recognise that grouped accommodation is going to become a more substantial part as we go on.”
‘Gold standard’
He told the show about accommodation which is currently on offer to refugees in Millstreet admitting that it wasn’t the “gold standard.” However, he refuted media reports which suggested that it involves tents.
“As of last night we began to use the Millstreet Centre. Seventy people moved their last night. The accommodation there is indoor. There was a reference to tented accommodation earlier. It is not tented. It is all indoor. The tents are nothing to do with the accommodation provided for the Ukrainians.
“It is partitioned inside so people have privacy for their sleeping spaces. But obviously living and dining facilities are shared there. We have put in wifi. We have put in other supports and there are wrap around supports for Ukrainians living there.
“It is not the preference. It is not the gold standard. It is not what we would like everyone living in but we are in a crisis situation. We are in a European wide war. And we are doing our very best to provide shelter and to provide safety to Ukrainians.”
Fleeing
Meanwhile, Ukrainian ambassador to Ireland Larysa Gerasko says that she is concerned that refugees from her country who are fleeing trauma are ending up in the "not the best accommodation".
Ms Gerasko said that she of course understands that Ireland is facing a major housing challenge. However, she feels that Ukrainians refugees need to be accommodated in a more timely fashion.
Speaking to Morning Ireland, Ms Gersasko emphasised that Ukrainians are "most grateful" to Ireland.
“Most of our Ukrainians are very grateful to Ireland and to Irish people for their kindness. Many Ukrainians are working now and are learning English.”