Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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76. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the cost of a direct provision hostel (details supplied) in each year since it opened; the number of adults and children, respectively resident at the hostel on 1 September in each year since the hostel opened; the number of inspections carried out by Departmental staff or other State agencies or bodies in each year since the hostel opened; the number of adults and children, respectively deported while resident at the hostel in each year since the hostel was opened in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41666/18]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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The following table provides a detailed breakdown of the start and end dates and the value of each contract pertaining to the premises in question. Contracts are not generally made for periods matching a calendar year and can span a number of years or simply a number of months. The table reflects this.

The Deputy will also note that the table shows all information from 2006, when the centre was first contracted as an accommodation centre, up to the end of 2015 (excluding the last two full calendar years, i.e., 2016 and 2017).  In fulfilling its general accommodation responsibilities, the RIA does not lease or rent premises from commercial contractors.  Rather, it contracts-in a comprehensive range of services and facilities, which include accommodation, housekeeping, etc., for a fixed sum over the period of the contract.  RIA endeavours to achieve the best value for money in relation to these contracts, in respect of which negotiations can take place with a number of commercial entities. 

As RIA is currently moving to the phased introduction of public tendering, it is therefore not in the best interests of the taxpayer that current details of individual contracts are generally made known.  To compile or release such current detailed financial information could negatively affect the competitive position of the State in their discussions with parties who are, or who may be in the future, engaged in negotiations with the RIA. This is in accordance with the Reception & Integration Agency's policy on disclosure of financial information which was agreed with the Office of the information Commissioner.  

It is important to note that each of these contracts require contractor to provide full bed and board and lodgings (including laundry services, WIFI facilities etc) for all persons in the protection process resident at the relevant centre.

The number of adults and children in the centre on 1 September each year is not available.  The Department does, however, maintain a snapshot of such detail at 31 December of each year.  The information is published in the Annual Reports of the Reception & Integration Agency (RIA) of the Department (also available in respect of other centres at www.ria.gov.ie).  Please note that the RIA Annual Reports were first published in 2007 and information in relation to 2006 is not available.

The following table outlines the number of adults and children in the centre on 31 December for the years 2007 to 2017.

The number of inspections carried out at this centre in each year was as follows:

Year  Total No. of Inspections

2006 0 (centre opened in October)

2007 1

2008 2

2009 3

2010 2

2011 3

2012 2

2013 3

2014 4

2015 1

2016 3

2017 3

2018 2 (to date)

In relation to the Deputy’s question about persons deported each year while residing in a specified State provided accommodation centre, the position is that deportation related records are not maintained by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of the Department in a manner such as would allow the figures for such deportations to be disaggregated from the figures for all deportation orders effected in the relevant year.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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77. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of adults and children residing in a direct provision hostel (details supplied); when the attention of his Department and RIA was drawn to the fact that the operator of this centre would not be renewing their contract; his plans and the plans RIA has in place to secure accommodation for all of the residents of the centre including those with leave to remain but unable to secure alternative accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41667/18]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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There are currently 157 adults and 91 children resident in the centre in question. A total of 65 persons resident in the centre currently have leave to remain in Ireland. 

The Department has been informed by the contractor for the centre by letter received on the 3rd October 2018 that they will not be seeking to renew the contract which expires in December 2018. The Deputy will appreciate that discussions between the contractor and officials from the Department are on-going with the welfare of the residents at the centre of those discussions.

As part of a wider scheme to seek additional accommodation for those in the international protection process, a public procurement competition for premises within 40km of Newbridge was advertised on the 16th September 2018 with a closing date of the 17th October 2018. Clondalkin is within 40km of Newbridge.

The Department also provides funding to NGOs and works with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government on the issue of accommodation. In particular, funding was granted to the Jesuit Refugee Service under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund Ireland 2017 - 2019 for the PATHS project (Providing Asylum-seekers in Transition with Housing and Support) which assists long-term residents with status to exit the Accommodation Centre in Clondalkin. In addition, funding has been granted to South Dublin County Partnership for a two year housing and integration programme of which a key part is assisting residents of the Towers Centre who have their status to access housing supports.