Written answers
Wednesday, 8 May 2024
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
International Protection
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
442. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many of the six reception centres targeted under the 2021 White Paper on Ending Direct Provision have been delivered to date; how many further are in development; the estimated number of persons that may be accommodated under the reception centres delivered to date and those in development, respectively; and to provide a breakdown of the average capital cost to build or acquire these centres, and the annual current cost to operate the centres, in tabular form. [20398/24]
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
443. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many of the 75 urban renewal units targeted under the 2021 White Paper on Ending Direct Provision have been delivered to date; how many more are in development; to provide a breakdown of those built and those purchased; the estimated number of persons that may be accommodated under the units delivered and in development respectively; and to provide a breakdown of the average capital and current cost to construct these units. [20399/24]
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
444. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many applicants of international protection have been accommodated under the hosting in the community accommodation strand, as outlined under the 2021 White Paper on Ending Direct Provision. [20400/24]
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
447. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the rationale of his Department’s targeted IPAS capacity of 35,000 by 2028 for arrivals of 13,000-16,000 per annum under the ‘Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy for International Protection Applicants’ – specifying, in tabular form, the estimated duration of accommodation between phase 1, phase 2 and post-status approval respectively, with a breakdown of the duration estimated for standard and accelerated procedures; and to outline the level of flexibility and flow-through within these estimates. [20403/24]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
I propose to take Questions Nos. 442, 443, 444 and 447 together.
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. There is a legal obligation on the state to meet the requirements under the EU Recast Reception Conditions Directive to provide accommodation to all who request it.
In 2022 and 2023 Ireland experienced unprecedented numbers of new IP arrivals with over 26,900. To put this in context the total number of applications received in 2022 and 2023 (26,900) is greater than the total received over the preceding eight year period, 2013-2021 (23,369). These very significant arrival numbers have continued in the first months of 2024, with the highest number of applicants, over 3300, received in January and February according to IPO published statistics. This represents a 56% increase when compared to the corresponding period in 2023.
Because of these extreme challenges in providing accommodation, there was a recognition that the underlying assumptions on which the White Paper was based required re-assessment, as the assumptions underpinning it are based on 3500 new arrivals each year. The context of the accommodation challenge over the past 3 years as outline above formed the rationale for the review. A review of the timelines and deliverables was initiated, including the urban renewal targets, community accommodation strand and the original 6 centre target as specified previously.
On the 27th March 2024 Government agreed a new Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy (CAS) for International Protection applicants. The strategy seeks to address the current accommodation shortfall, while reforming the system over the longer term to ensure the State will always be able to meet its international commitments.
Accommodation in the new strategy will be delivered through the following multi-strand approach:
1. Use of State land for prefabricated and modular units
2. Conversion of commercial buildings
3. Targeted purchase of medium and larger turnkey properties
4. Design and build of new Reception and Integration Centres
5. Upgrading of IPAS Centres
The multi-strand approach focuses on both increasing State owned permanent capacity, and the upgrading of additional contingency accommodation, developed to specific national standards, to build an effective system to meet the new realities of increasing need while enabling the State to discharge its duty to meet the material reception conditions of IP Applicants, according to the guiding principles of the White Paper.
In order to deal with the demand led nature of the system, the commissioning of emergency commercial accommodation will continue to be a feature in the short to medium term. This accommodation will be contracted on shorter-term basis and if application numbers drop, can be decommissioned as contracts expire. It is planned that as new State owned and permanent commercial accommodation comes on stream the use of this emergency accommodation will reduce.
Once sufficient State owned accommodation has been delivered over the coming years, and emergency accommodation reduced substantially, the Government may, at that point, seek to reduce further the proportion of remaining permanent accommodation delivered by commercial providers and move to a fully or predominately State owned system.
In terms of new accommodation numbers the table below details the proposed various accommodation types, capacity and ownership.
| Accommodation Type | Bed Capacity | Ownership |
|---|---|---|
| Reception and Integration Centres and Accommodation Centres, at or above national standards | Up to 13,000 | State Owned |
| In-Community Accommodation for vulnerable persons, at or above national standards | Up to 1,000 | State Owned, operated in partnership with NGOs. |
| Contingency Accommodation, at national standards | Up to 11,000 | Commercial Providers |
| Emergency Accommodation | Up to 10,000 | Commercial Providers |
An Expression of Interest (EOI) process was launched on the 30th April by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for the sourcing of suitable properties. The EOI seeks to identify properties for acquisition under the following criteria:
- 150+ beds;
- Bedrooms in line with National Standards;
- existing properties/buildings in turnkey condition;
- existing properties that require upgrading/refurbishment/renovation.
Not with standing the accommodation challenges, much progress on the White Paper pillars around integration and supports have been progressed. These include the following:
- Dedicated accommodation units for vulnerable people are being established including a unit for victims of trafficking (VOT);
- Independent monitoring of IPAS centre standards by HIQA has been introduced which will provide greater confidence on the standards being applied in existing IPAS accommodation;
- International Protection Child Payment (IPCP) has been sanctioned. This payment will contribute towards the cost of raising a child, protect against child poverty, and enable participation in Irish society. The Department are currently dealing with DSP regarding the administering of this payment;
- Establishment of Local Authority Integration Teams at a county level. These teams will provide on-going support to International Protection (IP) Applicants, Programme Refugees and Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) to better enable them to engage with existing services and ultimately to live independently in the community. 75% of personnel for the teams are now in place;
- Two new funds aimed at IP integration have been introduced:
- An international Protection Integration Fund enabling community based organisations play a greater role in the integration of IP’s. Over €2.8m has been provided since 2022. The 2024 fund is currently being administered with €1.5m made available;
- Children and Young People’s Services Committees (CYPSC) fund which enhances the provision of their support services to children, young people and their families in International Protection accommodation settings. €1.3m in funding was provided in 2023 and a further €1.2m has been administered in 2024.
- Under the European Social Fund 2021-2027 funding has been allocated to recruit dedicated practitioners to support families living in IPAS accommodation.
The implementation of a new model of accommodation and supports for International Protection applicants is and will continue to be a key priority for this government.
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
445. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a breakdown of the 13,000 State-owned IPAS units targeted by 2028 under the ‘Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy for International Protection Applicants’ that will be dedicated to reception and integration centres and accommodation centres respectively; and the estimated number of centres needed to accommodate the targeted unit capacity for reception and integration centres and accommodation centres respectively, in tabular form. [20401/24]
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
446. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a breakdown, in tabular form, of how many of the 11,000 commercially owned contingency accommodation units targeted by 2028 under the ‘Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy for International Protection Applicants’ are estimated to be delivered through the acquisition of new IPAS centres; and how many through upgrades of existing IPAS centres. [20402/24]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
I propose to take Questions Nos. 445 and 446 together.
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. There is a legal obligation on the state to meet the requirements under the EU Recast Reception Conditions Directive to provide accommodation to all who request it.
In 2022 and 2023 Ireland experienced unprecedented numbers of new IP arrivals with over 26,900. To put this in context the total number of applications received in 2022 and 2023 (26,900) is greater than the total received over the preceding eight year period, 2013-2021 (23,369). These very significant arrival numbers have continued in the first months of 2024, with the highest number of applicants, over 3300, received in January and February according to IPO published statistics. This represents a 56% increase when compared to the corresponding period in 2023.
On the 27th March 2024 Government agreed a new Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy (CAS) for International Protection applicants. The strategy seeks to address the current accommodation shortfall, while reforming the system over the longer term to ensure the State will always be able to meet its international commitments.
Accommodation in the new strategy will be delivered through the following multi-strand approach:
1. Use of State land for prefabricated and modular units
2. Conversion of commercial buildings
3. Targeted purchase of medium and larger turnkey properties
4. Design and build of new Reception and Integration Centres
5. Upgrading of IPAS Centres
The table below details the composition of accommodation from 2028 onwards
| Accommodation Type | Bed Capacity | Ownership |
|---|---|---|
| Reception and Integration Centres and Accommodation Centres, at national standards | Up to 13,000 | State Owned |
| In-Community Accommodation for vulnerable persons, at national standards. | Up to 1,000 | State Owned, operated in partnership with NGOs. |
| Contingency Accommodation, at national standards | Up to 11,000 | Commercial Providers |
| Emergency Accommodation | Up to 10,000 | Commercial Providers |
As detailed in the strategy, accommodation will be delivered through a blended approach of purchasing, turnkey deliverable and delivery on State owned sites. The breakdown of dedicated state owned Reception and Integration and Accommodation Centres will be dependent on the opportunities that arise from the multi-strand approach. Progress made on the CAS includes the launching on the 30th April of an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the purchase or leasing of turnkey properties. The EOI requires properties submitted for consideration to be able to accommodate a minimum of 150 individuals.
In relation to the 11,000 commercially owned contingency accommodation units targeted by 2028, existing IPAS centres will be used if they pass an assessment of their physical and social infrastructure in line with National Standards. Additionally new centres will be acquired as detailed above.
No comments