Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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232. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he is satisfied that local communities in County Donegal in which direct provision facilities are being proposed have been adequately consulted regarding such facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50200/18]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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In January and again in September of this year, the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department published a call for expressions of interest in the national press for premises to meet the increasing demand for accommodation for persons in the protection process. This accommodation is for those seeking international protection, namely asylum seekers.

This call sought expressions of interest from parties who would be interested in providing accommodation and related services on an urgent and emergency basis. This was issued in response to the urgent and unforeseen demand for accommodation and related services from those persons arriving in the state seeking international protection.

The criteria against which the Department assessed the offers of accommodation were availability, standard of property, ability to provide communal social spaces for residents, ability to cater at mealtimes and proximity to required various services.

It should be noted that these premises were offered to the Department by individual contractors across the country. The Department did not randomly choose any one location over another location.

Following on-site assessments carried out by staff in the Department, the offer of the Caislean Mara hotel in Moville, Co. Donegal was deemed to be suitable premises for the needs of the Department. At that time, the premises was available, capable of providing meals to residents and has scope to provide the required communal social areas required by residents.

Following the conclusion of negotiations between the Department and the Contractor, all local councillors and elected members of the Oireachtas were contacted. It was not possible to begin consultations earlier as the Department did not know until such negotiations were completed that it would be possible to use the facility. Officials from my Department also attended an information meeting in Moville with the local community which was attended also by local Councillors and elected members of the Oireachtas. This meeting provided an opportunity to answer questions on the centre from members of the local community.

The Deputy will be aware that since then, the hotel was the subject of an arson attack which has caused some damage to the reception area and some bedrooms. I have repeatedly condemned this attack and I do so again. While this attack will inevitably cause a delay in the opening of the accommodation centre, officials from the Reception and Integration Agency in my Department remain in close contact with their colleagues in the HSE and the Departments of Education and Employment Affairs and Social Protection. The purpose behind this is to ensure that any issues that arise are addressed as quickly as possible.