The Department of Integration has issued a new update on the relocation of people from Ukraine in State-supported accommodation, specifically on how it intends to start reducing the number of contracts for accommodation.
The Department says it is reducing the number of contracts in place specifically for people fleeing the war in Ukraine, to return accommodation to the private sector where possible and ensure “value for money and greater oversight. This means that significant numbers of people who have been granted temporary protection in Ireland, will be moved to other locations over the next months.”
The Department say this is happening because in recent months, Ireland has seen decreases in the number of people arriving from Ukraine to Ireland, and added to that, less are requesting accommodation from the State and greater numbers are choosing to move on from State accommodation.
“As a result of this, the Department will be ending contracts that we no longer need with short-term accommodation providers over the next few months, for the following reasons:
– Where compliance concerns exist.
– To reduce the total number of contracts in place specifically for people from Ukraine who have been granted temporary protection, to return accommodation to the private sector where possible, ensure better oversight and better value for money.
What are Compliance Concerns?
This reduction will focus first on ending contracts where there are compliance concerns. Compliance concerns are when a provider is not meeting the required, contracted standards of service.
Since June 2023, a dedicated Compliance team in the Department has been reviewing accommodation to ensure that all providers comply with contractual terms, as well as investigating reported incidents and complaints.
Compliance issues include, but are not limited to:
At the moment there are over 1,000 properties potentially providing accommodation to over 45,000 people who are beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine.
The Department claims “there is sufficient capacity” in designated accommodation centres for people to stay up to 90 days in order to orientate themselves and make their own private arrangements for accommodation, should they wish to stay in Ireland.
There are also paid-for vacancies in some existing accommodation, as people choose to leave State-funded accommodation on a daily basis, and as the Department starts to use new sources of non-standard accommodation, such as rapid-builds and refurbished properties, when they come on-stream.
The Department will be writing to providers to inform them when contracts will be ending as soon as this is confirmed. We will also confirm to them that all residents will be moved to other accommodation.
The Department will be writing to the people impacted by this ending of contracts to let them know that the contract is ending with that provider and that should they wish to continue to receive State-funded accommodation, it will be provided in another location.
It will also inform every one of their options to source their own accommodation if they wish to stay in the area, either through the pledge and Offer a Home schemes, or privately using supports available to them such as rent supplement.
All residents who request continued State accommodation will be moved. Where possible, moves will be scheduled by the Department for the summer months to reduce disruption to children attending schools. This may not be possible in all cases the Department says.