Counties to be given funding based on number of Ukrainian refugees and asylum seekers accommodated

The government has announced that funding will be given to counties based on the number of displaced Ukrainian refugees and asylum seekers they accommodate.

The new funding measures are part of a €50 million programme brought to the government by Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, according to the Irish Examiner.

Specifically, Minister Humphreys brought the programme before the Cabinet subcommittee on Ukraine.

Community groups and associations will be able to apply for funding to help with the integration process, but larger amounts will be available in the places with the greatest number of new arrivals.

The fund is expected to operate in a manner similar to the community support funds for Covid-19.

However, the size of county-by-county funding will differ depending on the number of people in each county needing assistance.

In addition, Minister for Integration, Roderic O’Gorman, told RTÉ Radio that the government plans to build more State-provided accommodation next year on State-owned land.

However, he also said he recognised how 'tight' the accommodation situation is in Ireland.

The Examiner also reported that in the past three weeks, just under 500 new vacant homes have been offered and are currently being inspected by local authorities across the nation.