James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Ahearn for raising the very important issue of Hearns Hotel in Clonmel being used as a facility for international protection applicants. I am responding on behalf of Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, who sends his apologies for not being here this morning.

Ireland and many other European countries are experiencing a significant increase in people seeking international protection. The arrival numbers remain significantly elevated and in the first 21 weeks of 2024, over 8,300 people have arrived in Ireland seeking accommodation from the State, averaging 398 people per week. This is more than five times the average from 2017-2019 and the highest weekly applications in 2024 consisted of over 610 applicants.

As of 19 May, there are over 30,000 people accommodated in international protection accommodation services, otherwise known as the IPAS system. Over 7,494 of this group as a whole are children, compared with approximately 8,700 people at the end of February 2022. IPAS provides support to people through non-governmental organisations to assist them in moving on from IPAS accommodation. Progress in this area continues to be challenging despite nearly 1,700 people transitioning to more permanent accommodation in the community since the beginning of 2024.

As of 19 May, there are 750 IP applicants in County Tipperary. The International Protection Procurement Service, IPPS, is responding to an offer of accommodation made in respect of Hearns Hotel. A full assessment of the property is under way at present. If a contract is signed with the provider, the property will subsequently be brought into use.If a contract is signed with a provider, the property would subsequently be brought into use. If a contract is agreed and the property is to come into use, the community engagement team will provide a briefing document about the accommodation to elected representatives. The CET has been established to engage directly with elected representatives, relevant local authorities, local development companies and other entities and individuals. The purpose of the team is to improve the flow of information regarding arrivals into areas and to help equip local communities with the accurate information required to help them understand the current situation. The team does not have a role in the procurement of premises or the allocation of new arrivals.

The Government is committed to supporting all those seeking refuge in Ireland and is considering all offers of accommodation. The Department is currently availing of repurposed office buildings, decommissioned Defence Forces barracks and tents to try to address shortfalls in reception capacity. Since January 2022, the Department has brought more than 200 properties into use to accommodate those who arrive in Ireland seeking international protection. The Government is making every effort to accommodate asylum seekers against a backdrop of unprecedented demand. However, the situation remains challenging and the Department cannot provide accommodation to all applicants.

The EU reception conditions directive outlines the necessary reception conditions for receiving IP applicants. In line with this directive, in circumstances where the State temporarily runs out of accommodation, the State can exceptionally offer different reception conditions. It does this in the form of a €75 per week increased expense allowance, bringing the total allowance to €113.80 to those to whom the State cannot offer accommodation.

The Government remains committed to supporting all those seeking refuge in Ireland and is considering all offers of accommodation, in line with the comprehensive accommodation strategy approved by Government on 27 March this year. This revised strategy followed a review of the implementation approach for the White Paper due to an exponential growth in applications for international protection, with in excess of 30,000 new arrivals since January 2022, whereas the White Paper was originally based on 3,500 new arrivals each year. The review included inputs from the White Paper programme board and the external advisory group.

The Government-approved comprehensive accommodation 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. The reforms will see a move away from full reliance on private providers and towards a core of State-owned accommodation, delivering 14,000 State-owned beds by 2028, quadruple the previous commitment under the White Paper. At the moment, no agreement has been reached but I do not have the specific details on the accommodation the Senator asked for. I will ask the Minister to provide that.