Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Ireland and many other European countries are experiencing a significant increase in people seeking international protection. The arrival numbers remain significantly elevated. In the first 26 weeks of this year, more than 10,000 people have arrived in Ireland seeking accommodation from the State, averaging 386 people per week. This is more than five times the average from 2017 to 2019. The highest weekly applications so far this year has been 610 applicants.

The Government is making every effort to accommodate people seeking international protection against a backdrop of unprecedented demand. However, the situation remains challenging, and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth cannot provide accommodation to all applicants.More than 2,300 single men are awaiting an offer of IPAS accommodation. Against this backdrop, the Government is considering all offers of accommodation in line with the comprehensive accommodation strategy approved by it on 27 March this year, to which the Senator referred. This revised strategy followed a review of the implementation approach for the White Paper due to the exponential growth in applications for international protection, with more than 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, as the Senator acknowledged, and towards a core of State-owned accommodation, thereby delivering 14,000 State-owned beds by 2028, which is quadruple the previous commitment under the White Paper. This will be supplemented, as required, by high-standard commercial providers. Accommodation in the new strategy is being delivered through the following multistrand approach: the utilisation of State land for prefabricated and modular units; the conversion of commercial buildings; the targeted purchase of medium and larger turnkey properties; the design and build of new reception and integration centres; and the upgrading of IPAS centres.

As part of this planning, the Department is working with the Irish Prison Service on a handover regarding services at Thornton Hall. A review is currently ongoing regarding the current status of electricity, water and sewage capability at Thornton Hall. The Department is engaging with partners to complete relevant environmental assessments. The Department will work on several options, including short and long-term solutions to infrastructure challenges for accommodation for IP applicants at Thornton Hall. The immediate focus is on sourcing State-owned land where tented accommodation can be provided and vacant State-owned buildings. Additionally, an expression of interest process has been launched by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for the sourcing of suitable properties for acquisition or lease as international protection accommodation.