Michael McGrath has praised the “extraordinary spirit of generosity of the Irish people” in offering to open up their doors to up to 200,000 Ukrainian refugees
He added that it will cost “hundreds of millions” of euro to host the refugees that we could be welcoming here in the wake of the Russian invasion.
But the Public Expenditure Minister said that we will take the hit because “it’s the right thing to do.”
Meanwhile, Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, indicated there would be no limit to the funds and resources available from Government as she told the Irish Mirror that her department would “not be found wanting in this regard.”
And Minister for Integration, Roderic O’Gorman, revealed that Cabinet has been told about local authorities pledging 500 buildings they own to help the State effort.
An analysis of these buildings is currently being carried out by the Department of Housing to see how they might be reconfigured to make them suitable as accommodation.
Mr O’Gorman also said that discussions with religious groups centres around using buildings like disused monasteries or convents, that would already have living accommodation.
The ministers were speaking after a Cabinet meeting discussed the latest Government preparations for the greatest humanitarian crisis Europe has seen since World War II.
An all-Government approach has been taken by the Cabinet, with every department pitching in to help where they can.
Current estimates from the United Nations estimate that up to 3.8million Ukrainians have crossed over borders into western Europe to escape the brutal Russian invasion from the east.
And the UN is also estimating that as many as 10million Ukrainians, almost a quarter of its whole population, have been displaced from their homes.
Ireland as a member of the EU is stepping up to the plate in its response and has already welcomed over 10,000 Ukrainians to our shores.
These are being treated as if they were full EU citizens, being offered the same employment, welfare, education and health service rights as anyone else from the EU would be.
The reality is that we will likely have to welcome tens of thousands more Ukrainian refugees as our EU obligations require us to accept 2% of any total.
That means, as Minister O’Gorman told reporters after Cabinet, that the current estimate of 3.8million refugees would see us provide sanctuary for up to 68,000 refugees.
But if the UN total turns out to be 10million in time, that could see the figure rise to 200,000.
Mr McGrath told RTE News at One: “I think the spirit of generosity we’ve seen from the Irish people has been quite extraordinary and the Government will try to lead by example in providing the resources necessary.
“But it is true to say the resources required will be very significant.
“We are looking at hundreds of millions of euro.”
Ms Humpreys said it is important that the Ukrainians coming here fit in.
She said: “We need to get them settled in and then of course, a lot of them will actually move into jobs.
“So we want to integrate them into society as quickly as possible."
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