Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the steps he has taken to prevent the ending of the direct provision contract at a hotel (details supplied); the reason a company is withdrawing from this contract; the contingency plans which will be put in place to provide appropriate alternative accommodation for the 150 adults and children without leave to remain living in the hotel should the contract come to an end; and the contact he has had with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to put in place contingency plans for the 80 adults and children who have leave to remain and are at risk of homelessness should the contract end in December 2018. [42653/18]

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Will the Minister outline what he and his departmental officials and staff in the Reception and Integration Agency are doing to prevent the imment displacement of 248 adults and children from the Towers Hotel direct provision centre in Clondalkin as a result of the withdrawal of the contract from 3 December?

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department was informed by the contractor for the centre, by letter received on 3 October 2018, that it would not be seeking to renew the contract, which expires in December. My Department and the contractor have had a number of discussions in recent days, but, unfortunately, it has not been possible to agree an extension to the contract that would comply with public procurement regulations. The welfare of the residents was at the centre of the discussions. I assure the Deputy that the Reception and Integration Agency is acutely aware of the hardship caused for residents in potentially having to move centre before Christmas. Residents at the centre were all formally informed by personal letter delivered last Friday morning, 12 October, that it had not proved possible to secure an extension of the contract to 30 June 2019 and that, unfortunately, the centre would close when the contract came to an end on 3 December.

As part of a wider scheme to seek additional accommodation for those in the international protection process, on 16 September my Department advertised a public procurement competition for premises within 40 km of Newbridge. The contractor may submit the accommodation centre in question for inclusion in this competition if it chooses to do so. In the light of the most recent developments, I have arranged to extend the closing date for the competitive process to 31 October. I hope this will enable interested contractors to submit premises for inclusion in the tender process.

Notwithstanding this, we will continue to work with the residents of the Towers who are still in the international protection process in order to identify alternative accommodation within the accommodation portfolio of my Department. The Department has commenced the process of identifying additional capacity, both by way of the public procurement competition referenced and an advertisement placed in the national press seeking expressions of interest in providing accommodation on an emergency basis for persons in the international protection process.

My aim is to limit, to the greatest extent possible, the disruption caused for families and residents relying on Dublin-based services. We are examining whether this objective can be strengthened in contracts. The Reception and Integration Agency is working on contingency plans to facilitate schoolgoing children to continue in their schools for the current school year. Many Deputies from the constituency, including Deputy Fitzgerald and others, have contacted me about the matter. The children are living in the centre in question. However, the Reception and Integration Agency is constrained by the current demands on its accommodation and the absence of bed capacity within its system. Considerable work has been done to support residents with status to move out of accommodation centres and provide permanent accommodation. I have been in contact with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government about the implications of this and the wider issue of providing accommodation for persons who have been granted permission to remain in Ireland. These discussions are ongoing. My Department also provides funding for NGOs to deal with accommodation issues affecting those who have been granted permission to remain, including the approximately 60 such persons affected in this instance.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State and acknowledge the work he is doing in this regard and that he has made himself available to discuss the matter with those of us who are Deputies for the constituency. The men, women and children who live in the Clondalkin Towers direct provision centre are part of our community. The children go to local schools, use local doctors and support services, while many of them are in third level education. The view of the local community is that we want them to stay. We do not want them to be flung to the far corners of the country. At this late stage we are concerned about the possibility of substantial disruption being caused to the lives and well-being of the families in question. I refer to those still in the process, as well as those with leave to remain. I ask the Minister of State to confirm a number of things. I understand the RIA and Fazyard, the company with the contract, are still in contact. Is that the case and is an extension of the contract still possible? I also understand the RIA contacted the manager of the centre last night at 7 p.m. to ask the families to be available for a meeting at 3 p.m. today, which seems to be very short notice. Will the Minister of State confirm that RIA will give more adequate notice to the families to assist them in the difficult situation they are facing?

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Funding was also granted to the Jesuit Refugee Service and the Peter McVerry Trust under Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund Ireland 2017 to 2019 to provide asylum seekers in transition with housing and support, the PATHS project. In addition, funding has been granted to South Dublin County Partnership for a two year housing and integration programme, a key part of which is assisting residents who have received permission to remain to access housing supports. Officials have also been liaising with South Dublin County Council on the particular issue arising in Clondalkin. Everything possible is being done. I also acknowledge the support of Deputies in the constituency and the constructive way in which they have gone about trying to provide support. On the contract, as I said, we have extended the procurement date to 31 October. I hope other contractors will come forward. It is open to the current contractor to do so, if it so wishes. The people who work in the RIA who work very closely with the asylum seekers are particularly upset about what is happening and going above and beyond the call of duty to assist and help. I will take on board the question the Deputy has brought to my attention about the giving of adequate notice. Every effort is being made to assist and support those affected.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I again acknowledge the role the Minister of State has played in securing funding for the accommodation worker in the Towers, as well as for the intercultural centre. I would, however, like to press him. My understanding is there is still contact between the RIA and the current contractor to try to resolve the issue, or at least to secure an extension to the current contract. Will the Minister of State comment on this? To clarify, is it possible for the contract to be extended if some other party tenders for the longer term direct provision contract and is successful? Turning to the RIA - I am not criticising any departmental staff member - the families living in Clondalkin Towers are very frightened and unsure about the future. Giving them late notice at night time of an afternoon meeting on the following day is not acceptable. I would like to see RIA staff in the centre on a number of days, both in the afternoon and evening, to work with the families to ensure they would have full information. I would also like the Minister of State to work with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, and the local authority to ensure the 68 adults and children who have status and could imminently be facing homelessness will receive additional support to get them into private rented accommodation.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I have been in contact with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, on this issue. He and his people are very aware of it and also assisting where they can. There is, however, a public procurement process under way covering the area within which the premises is located. It is a matter for any contractor, including the contractor involved, to make a submission in response to the procurement process. By the same token, it would be completely inappropriate for me to intervene in any way in that process, as the Deputy will understand. In this instance the contractor sought a longer term extension that would not have been in compliance with procurement law which we could not breach by agreeing to the request. The Reception and Integration Agency sought a short term extension to the contract to June 2019 to allow for a structured and orderly exit from the centre, taking schooling, etc. into account, but this was not acceptable to the contractor. However, we and the RIA remains open to any approach or suggestion from the contractor. The door has not by any means been closed. As I said, every effort is being made to support the residents, those who have status, as well as those without it. There is, however, a fair degree of pressure being exerted on the RIA to provide accommodation across all of its portfolio. It is a huge challenge, but I assure the House that every effort is being made to support the people concerned. I again thank Deputies for their support and constructive engagement on the matter.