Over €9.9 million has been spent by the State transporting temporary protection applicants to accommodation centres since 2022, it has been revealed.
The information was obtained through a Parliamentary Question to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability and Youth, by Laois Offaly Independent, Carol Nolan.
A detailed breakdown from the department shows that since March 2022, €9,912,917.57 has been spent by the Department transporting beneficiaries of temporary protection to their accommodation. Over €1 million has been spent on transportation costs so far this year.
In 2022, €4,116,372.22 was spent on transport costs, while this figure jumped to €4,749,147.82 in 2023. From January 2024 up until 1 May 2024, €1,047,397.53 has been spent on such costs.
The revelation was made on Wednesday, after the Independent TD lodged the parliamentary question.
In response, Minister Roderic O’Gorman said: “Owing to the largest conflict on the European continent since World War Two, 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 conflict who request it, in line with Government policy.
“To date, over 106,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTPs) have arrived in Ireland, and over 84,000 of those have been referred to my Department seeking accommodation from the State.”
The Minister added: “After Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection arrived in the State and were assigned to designated temporary under the Temporary Protection Direrctive, transport would be required for the vast majority. Transport via coach would have been necessary to move people in larger numbers, especially at the height of the crisis, though other transport options would have been availed of, where required.”
The EU Temporary Protection Directive was activated by the EU Council in March 2022, following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The process for granting Temporary Protection in Ireland to those fleeing the war (known as BOTPs – Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection) is separate from international protection.
The EU Directive places specific obligations on all EU Member States, including Ireland, including the period of temporary protection to be offered and what State supports and services should be received.
Those eligible for Temporary Protection have immediate access to the labour market, social welfare, accommodation and other State supports for as long as the Temporary Protection Directive is activated.
The EU Directive does not provide for any limit on the number of people that can benefit from Temporary Protection, once they meet the criteria.