Varadkar says nothing decided yet on future supports offered to Ukrainian refugees
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said it 'makes sense' to bring Ireland’s offering into line with how other EU countries treat Ukrainian refugees.
Changes to how Ireland looks after Ukrainian refugees will need to take into consideration accommodation capacity as well as social welfare, education, and healthcare resources, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said.
Mr Varadkar said several Government departments needed to work together to come up with a joint set of proposals.
He said nothing had yet been decided by Government, with hopes a joint memo would be brought to Cabinet “in the next few weeks”.
Controversy arose last week amid divisions among Government parties over proposals to time limits on the provision of State accommodation for refugees.
“If and when we do make changes to the offering for Ukrainian refugees to come here, it won’t be just any one department,” Mr Varadkar said.
“Minister [Roderic] O’Gorman is responsible for accommodation, Minister [Helen] McEntee has responsibility for the EU law and directive itself. There are responsibilities for education, healthcare, and social protection so we really need to pull all that together.
“We’re just not at that point yet but perhaps in the next few weeks.”
It comes after an internal Government row last week, following a plan by Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman to introduce a 90-day limit on State accommodation support for Ukrainian refugees.
Mr Varadkar said it “makes sense” to bring Ireland’s offering into line with how other EU countries treat Ukrainian refugees.
However, he confirmed there were no plans to turn anyone away from Ireland.
"Nobody coming from other parts of the world seeking international protection is going to be told to go away. They'll have their application processed,” Mr Varadkar said.
His comments follow confirmation that the Government is set to deliver less than half of its planned 700 modular homes for Ukrainian refugees by the end of the year.
The target, increased from 500 to 700 earlier this year, is not likely to be met with just 310 homes expected to be finished before the end of 2023.
It comes as an additional 106 homes are due to be finished this month, with 64 units in Clonmich Co Offaly, and 42 in Rathdowney, Co Laois.
OPW Minister Patrick O’Donovan said completion dates are contingent on site availability and technical issues arising during construction.
“There were a number of such technical issues that arose relating to site conditions, remedial works, boundaries etc that delayed earlier forecasted dates of completion on sites included in the programme,” Mr O’Donovan said.
The Department of Integration previously announced there would be modular homes built in Charleville, Ballinasloe, Co Galway, and Backweston on the Dublin/Kildare border. The OPW confirmed these homes are expected to be completed between April and July 2024.
Social Democrat’s integration spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore said the failure to build the homes quickly enough was an example of how the Government has failed in its response to the war in Ukraine.
“It's just yet another example of how the Government has failed to deliver on a medium to long-term solution for the Ukrainian refugees,” Ms Whitmore said.
"In a similar fashion, they haven't delivered on the promised refurbishment of vacant, State-owned premises. Instead, they've focused on short-term lettings like tourist or student accommodation, which is resulting in its own difficulties.
Mr O’Donovan also confirmed the OPW was currently examining a further three sites across the country that are suitable to hold modular homes for Ukrainian refugees.
When completed, it is expected the 700 homes will provide accommodation to up to 2,800 Ukrainian refugees.
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