Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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436. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the short and medium-term plans for Mosney direct provision centre; if there are any plans to transfer residents to other locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8914/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Mosney Accommodation Centre is currently in use by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth to accommodate people seeking International Protection.

Given the present high numbers of applicants seeking International Protection, the Department will continue to utilise Mosney Accommodation Centre in the short and medium term.

As you will be aware, despite tireless efforts of this Department, there is currently an accommodation shortfall for arriving International Protection (IP) applicants. This shortfall is currently in respect to single adult males but the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is now experiencing increasing pressure in its efforts to secure accommodation for arriving families, including those with children.

IPAS is currently accommodating over 27,000 people in over 200 accommodation centres throughout Ireland. Of these people, approximately 6,000 have been granted International Protection or Leave to Remain.

Given this and Ireland's legal obligation to provide accommodation to IP applicants, those who have held Leave to Remain in Ireland for a considerable length of time may be transferred to alternative emergency accommodation settings. This policy is in place to help ensure accommodation in non-emergency settings is available to newly arrived persons seeking IP.

Under The European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018, those who have had their application determined are no longer entitled to Material Reception conditions. However, IPAS continues to accommodate those with status, until such time that they progress into the community.

IPAS has a specific Transition team who work in collaboration with DePaul Ireland, the Peter McVerry Trust, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and Local Authorities to support residents with status to exit IPAS accommodation and access other housing options. Those with status have the same housing entitlements as Irish Citizens and are supported to register with a Local Authority and, if required, to avail of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) to secure alternative accommodation. In addition, those with status have the same social welfare entitlements as Irish Citizens.

Those with status for the greatest length of time are currently being offered a transfer to alternative emergency accommodation. Currently singles or couples with Leave to Remain over 12 months and families with status over 2 years have been notified of the offer of emergency accommodation.

All those with Leave to Remain are written to once status has been granted and are advised they must now seek alternative accommodation. They are also advised that the supports of PMVT/Depaul are available to them. In the past 12 months, over 2,000 people with status have left IPAS accommodation and progressed into the community.