Only three per cent of Cavan’s Ukrainian accommodation pledges taken up

Just six of the 200 accommodation pledges made in Cavan for people fleeing the Ukrainian invasion have been activated.

Figures from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, which is coordinating the country’s response, shows just three per cent of Cavan’s pledges have been taken up.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, more than 50,000 people have sought refuge in Ireland. Minister Roderic O’Gorman says, of those, in excess of 39,000 required accommodation to be provided.

“My Department’s role is focused on the immediate, short-term accommodation needs of those who have fled here. To date, more than 50,000 people have arrived in Ireland and in excess of 39,000 of those have been referred to us seeking accommodation from the State.”

In Cavan, 200 pledges of accommodation were made. According to the figures released by the Minister, just six of those are now accommodating refugees.

In Meath, 529 properties were pledged, with 70 taken up. Monaghan saw 152 offers of accommodation, with just six taken up.

In his response to the Labour leader Ivana Bacik, Minister O’Gorman said a total of 10,485 properties were notified as available to local authorities and NGOs across the country.

However, some 5,377 of those have been withdrawn, deemed unsuitable or were “uncontactable”.

“Of the remaining pledges a total of 5,108, 1,680 have been taken up by beneficiaries with the remainder still being progressed by implementation partners, both local authorities and NGOs where this is possible.

“It is expected that not all of those remaining pledges will result in beneficiary placement for various reasons. There are over 4,500 beneficiaries in pledged accommodation to date and this increases every day.”