Audit of state lands required for refugee housing
Labour housing spokesperson Rebecca Moynihan has called on government to update its Housing for All strategy to take account of the housing needs of Ukrainian refugees.
Senator Moynihan said:
“It is deeply concerning to read that the ‘céad mile fáilte’ we are offering refugees may consist of prefabs and tents. We need to develop a long term housing strategy for refugees to include long term, own home accommodation, not tents. These must be incorporated into Housing For All.
“There now must be an audit carried out of accessible state lands in urban areas to identify its suitability for modular housing for refugees fleeing the war.
“I wrote to the Minister for Housing last week outlining this need and asking for a briefing from his Department, however I was told it was the responsibility of the Minister for Integration. If this is true, then it is deeply concerning.
“There must be a whole of government response to the integration of Ukrainian refugees – from housing to education to integration. It is our obligation to ensure that they are supported and protected when they arrive in this State.
“As always, Irish people have opened their hearts and their homes to people fleeing Ukraine. Government should follow their lead and step up to the plate by providing a proper home for people and families.
“History tells us that refugees will not be able to return home quickly. We need a proper, well thought through long term housing strategy to ensure that we do not have children growing up in camps.”