Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The current public procurement process is aimed at securing additional accommodation for international protection applicants to enable the Department to move away from the use of emergency accommodation. As I have said, there is an urgency to this exercise; while demand remains relatively low, it is likely to increase once the current travel restrictions are eased. The State has a legal as well as a moral duty to provide accommodation to any applicant for international protection who needs accommodation; a claim is being determined but it would not be appropriate for me to speculate about the precise details of the procurement process, who might bid or about what tender submissions might be successful. The Department will run its tender process in compliance with public procurement law and it will be open to all eligible parties to bid, in the normal way, when the time comes.

I will bring the comments made by the Senator on the not-for-profit organisations, which are interesting, back to the Minister.