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

To respond to Deputy Connolly, the process is to provide a core of 13,000 State-owned beds between now and the end of 2028. That is what is set out in the comprehensive accommodation policy and that will be done through building on State land and purchasing sites. That will bring us to that capacity.

I have set out the work we are doing on State land. Part of that State land is the Thornton Hall site. The timeline for the first 40 tents to be on site is mid October. Deadlines have been delayed but the Deputy will know well the range of challenges from a small group, who are not local and I think we share that view, but who have done significant damage through intimidation on this particular site. It will initially be tented accommodation but will move to the prefabricated units I referred to in reply to Deputy Connolly's question. We hope to have approximately 400 international protection applicants on site by year end. I recognise there is a public transport issue and that is something we are working on to provide a clear answer.

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