Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 65, 67 and 78 together.

The response to the ongoing migration crisis has entered a difficult phase with limited accommodation for international protection applicants available in the short-to-medium term, particularly for single adults. I can assure the Deputies that every effort is being made by my Department to address the current shortfall in accommodation. Since 1 December 2022 to 30 January 2023, more than 1,700 additional spaces have been brought into use by the International Protection Accommodation Service, IPAS, for international protection applicants.

To provide some context to this figure, the average annual number of people arriving in Ireland seeking international protection from 2017 to 2019 was 3,500. The arrival numbers are at an all time high with 15,000 people arriving in 2022. In the first month of 2023, more than 1,200 new international protection applicants have sought accommodation from the State.

The Department has made every possible effort to secure accommodation and has sought support from the widest possible range of organisations to provide accommodation to international protection applicants. Where request for tender processes have not delivered the required capacity, the Department has engaged in emergency accommodation sourcing through networks with other State accommodation providers such as the local authorities, through newspaper advertisements, through cold calling and the use of online booking engines.

The Department has reached out to other Departments such as the Department of Education for school and third level institution facilities, the Department of Defence for unused barracks and buildings, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media for sporting and arts facilities, and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and the Office of Public Works for buildings that can be used to accommodate people. Many of the offers that have come through these requests have resulted in accommodation, both temporary and longer term.

In 2022, the Department has utilised all manner of buildings offered to it including office buildings and sports facilities such as Páirc Uí Chaoimh and the National Indoor Arena, Abbotstown. The Department continues to evaluate all offers from providers who will accommodate international protection applicants. Last week, I wrote to ministerial colleagues seeking their assistance in sourcing buildings to facilitate emergency rest centre operations to address the increase in arrivals.

Intensive efforts are being undertaken daily by my staff to source emergency accommodation. However, procuring enough bed space to keep pace with incoming arrivals remains extremely challenging, leading to a significant shortfall.

The sourcing of accommodation for international protection applicants is becoming increasingly challenging, in particular for single males. The lead-in for international protection accommodation can at times be lengthy and complex, particularly with regard to appraisal and evaluation from a building control regulations and renovation timelines perspective and on negotiations and contract engagement.

The Department, in co-operation with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, introduced a planning exemption for the change of use of office buildings and other warehouse-type facilities to assist in addressing the shortfall in international protection, IP, accommodation. Unfortunately, the take-up of this exemption by accommodation providers has been limited thus far.

However, there is no delay from the Department in regard to its evaluation of offers and proposals are being appraised and agreed at a rapid pace. There is significantly more demand for accommodation on account of Ukrainian displaced persons requiring accommodation and the increasing number of protests adds another layer of complexity to providers offering their accommodation for international protection.

In terms of measures being taken to increase capacity of accommodation for Ukrainian displaced persons, the Department continues to source shelter from multiple sources when it comes to people fleeing the war in Ukraine.

The Department is actively engaging with a range of stakeholders including accommodation providers, local authorities, Departments and implementing partners in efforts to secure new accommodation for Ukrainian displaced persons. As I said earlier, we are working with the Office of Public Works, OPW, in terms of the rapid build housing programme, with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in terms of refurbished properties and on the Offer a Home campaign, and with accommodation providers through the new accommodation offer portal. We have engaged with sports bodies, religious institutions, etc.

My Department continues to engage regularly with the City and County Management Association and the Local Government Management Association in terms of the provision of rest centres which has been important, particularly in meeting surges of arrivals of displaced persons from Ukraine.

Notwithstanding the real and immediate challenges, my Department continues to work to secure accommodation for both international protection applicants and Ukrainian displaced persons.

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