Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has contracted a property in Páirc Mhuire, Newbridge, Co. Kildare for use as accommodation for International Protection applicants. It has capacity for 11 people, and will accommodate families seeking International Protection.

Details on individual contracts or providers are considered commercially sensitive and are not made available at this time.

I trust this information clarifies the matter.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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231. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will clarify the rationale for his Department relying on the advice of a planning consultant engaged by the service provider that a proposed change of use of a property (details supplied) to IPAS accommodation was compliant with planning requirements in view of the fact that his officials had their attention drawn prior to entering into the related contract, that the statutory planning authority, Kildare County Council, had already determined to the contrary and had initiated enforcement proceedings against the provider under the Planning and Development Acts. [19857/24]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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232. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will clarify his Department's description that as a fundamental requirement for all providers of IPA accommodation to demonstrate that such accommodation is fully compliant with fire safety requirements, the Department entered into a contract in relation to a premises (details supplied) at a time when proceedings under the Fire Services Act, that ultimately led to the issue of a Closure Notice, that had already been initiated against the provider by the Kildare County Council's Chief Fire Officer. [19858/24]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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233. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 345 of 1 February 2024, if he will clarify the current status of this contract since publication in the meantime of his Department's 'rate card' for such accommodation now means that there are no longer any commercially sensitive aspects to the contract that may need to be withheld in the public interest [19859/24]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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234. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will clarify his Department's description that as a fundamental requirement for all providers of IPA accommodation to demonstrate that such accommodation is fully compliant with fire safety requirements, the Department entered into a contract in relation to a premises (details supplied) at a time when proceedings under the Fire Services Act, that ultimately led to the issue of a Closure Notice, that had already been initiated against the provider by the Kildare County Council's Chief Fire Officer. [19884/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 231, 232, 233 and 234 together.

I thank the Deputy for her question. The information sought by the Deputy is being compiled and will be provided directly in the coming day.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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235. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reasons Ukrainian refugees (details supplied) who were moved from a previously contracted residence under the BOTP and were subsequently moved to Drumcar and informed that they would be moved into any available residencies in Drogheda at the earliest opportunity; the reasons they remain in Drumcar despite the undertaking by his Department almost a year ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19899/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, my Department continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing the conflict who request it, in line with Government policy. To date, over 106,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTPs) have arrived in Ireland and approximately 84,000 of those have been referred to my Department seeking accommodation from the State.

All accommodation contracted by my Department is temporary in nature, and BOTPs are advised of this when requesting emergency accommodation.

Given the number of people that are being accommodated it is not possible to develop tailored solutions for individuals or families. In seeking to address immediate accommodation needs, safety and security are the paramount considerations.

Where contracts with accommodation providers are not renewed, my Department undertakes to offer alternative accommodation for those beneficiaries of temporary protection who continue to be in need of assistance. However, while my Department will endeavour to offer alternative accommodation in the region in which BOTPs are currently accommodated, this is not always possible. My Department cannot guarantee standard or location at this time, and BOTPs are encouraged to engage with their Local Authority to assess the possibility of finding accommodation in the community if possible.

Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) are entitled to make their own private arrangements including potentially availing of pledged accommodation, and can avail of some supports to do so. Those wishing to avail of pledged accommodation in any given area should contact the Local Authority in that area or the Irish Red Cross pledge process. The Irish Red Cross can be contacted by email at registerofpledges@redcross.ie or by phoning 1800 50 70 70.

BOTPs may also explore private rented accommodation either through their own means or with the assistance of Rent Supplement. Rent Supplement is a means-tested payment administered by the Department of Social Protection to help meet the cost of private rented accommodation. Their local Department of Social Protection office may be able to provide further information relating to Rent Supplement. Contact details for the local offices can be found on gov.ie (Intreo centres and local branch offices). www.gov.ie/en/directory/category/e1f4b5-intreo-offices/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/en/service/40cf48-find-your-local-intreo-office/.