Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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261. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total duration of the contracts currently held for accommodation; the calculated total expenditure on current contracts for the duration of those contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9782/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Contractual arrangements for the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation centres are deemed confidential and commercially sensitive.

IPAS contracts vary in length and cost, and therefore, it is not possible to provide the duration of contracts currently held for accommodation purposes.

The total spend for International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation at year end 2023, was €640,064,470, with 26,279 residents accommodated at 31 December 2023. The cost includes all accommodation and related costs, including transport, facilities management and other related expenditure.

The average cost of accommodating an IP applicant in IPAS accommodation is currently €76.80 per night.

In relation to service providers contracted by IPAS to provide accommodation services to International Protection (IP) applicants, the Department publishes reports on all payments over €20,000.These are published, once per quarter, on gov.ie

(www.gov.ie/en/collection/dfdadb-department-of-children-and-youth-affairs-purchase-orders-for-20000-o/#2022)

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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262. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current number of hotels now in use by his Department that were functioning as visitor accommodation prior to contracting with his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9783/24]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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273. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of hotels that are currently providing accommodation under arrangements agreed with his Department for accommodation for international protection applicants (families) where the operation of the hotels in question are exclusively for the use of accommodation for international protection applicants; if he will provide the details on a county by county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9843/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 262 and 273 together.

There are currently over 27,000 people being accommodated by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS).

Of those over 9,800 are being accommodated in 70 hotels throughout Ireland.

Over 90% of those hotels are contracted exclusively for the accommodation of International Protection (IP) applicants and are not available for commercial bookings.

The county by county information requested is not available at this time as the Department is under intensive pressure at the moment and does not routinely compile the information requested and to do so would involve many resources of a team where the current focus is on sourcing and contracting accommodation to provide shelter and prevent homelessness. In these circumstances it is not possible to undertake this exercise.

In relation to the Deputy’s request for the number of hotels that were previously functioning as hotels prior to contracting with my Department, my officials have advised me that the information requested is not recorded in that manner and to provide it would involve many resources.

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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263. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many companies hold multiple contracts with his Department for contracted accommodation; how many contracted properties each company holds, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9784/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Government is committed to delivering on its legal obligations to provide material reception conditions to those seeking International Protection (IP) in Ireland, and the Department is contracting emergency and short-term accommodation across the country in order to accommodate people as they arrive.

The Department carries out due diligence on accommodation being contracted including; Companies Registration Office number, where relevant; Tax Clearance Certificate; insurance; fire safety; accessibility to amenities; levels of service; and competitiveness of rates.

While the specific data set requested is not available at this juncture, work is progressing within the Department to compile this.

Please note that in relation to service providers contracted by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) to provide accommodation services to IP applicants, the Department publishes reports on all payments over €20,000. These are published, once per quarter, on

(www.gov.ie/en/collection/dfdadb-department-of-children-and-youth-affairs-purchase-orders-for-20000-o/#2022)

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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264. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of sites that have been identified by his Department to develop purpose-built accommodation capable of providing structured humanitarian aid in a sustainable way; when he expects any such sites to commence construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9785/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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In February 2021 A White Paper to End Direct Provision and establish a new International Protection Service was published. The paper set out a new approach for accommodating applicants that seek International Protection in Ireland and contains three core themes – accommodation, integration and supports.

Since January 2022, more than 29,000 people have come to Ireland seeking International Protection. At the same time, more than 100,000 people have fled from Ukraine, the vast majority of whom have required accommodation from the State.

In this context, there is a recognition that the underlying assumptions on which the White Paper was based needs to be re-examined, as the assumptions underpinning it are based on 3500 new arrivals each year. A review of the implementation approach including timelines and deliverables was initiated. Development of this revised implementation approach for the White Paper is at a very advanced stage. Discussions are continuing between the Governments parties with a view to bringing a final plan to Cabinet within the coming weeks. The new implementation approach will have a strong focus on increasing the state owned accommodation capacity through the advancement of capital delivery projects through a multi-strand approach of construction and acquisition of existing properties.

In addition to delivering a new approach for the White Paper the department is in the early stages of planning its approach for the delivery of the increased state owned accommodation capacity. Discussions are ongoing with Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, as part of the NDP review, regarding the need for significant capital monies to deliver on this.