James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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564. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the provision of a direct provision centre in the south-east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34997/19]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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There are currently five accommodation centres under contract to my Department to provide accommodation and ancillary services in the South East region (counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford).  Details of the these are given in tabular form below.

Last December, my Department, in conjunction with the Office of Government Procurement, published a Request for Tender (RFT) for accommodation and ancillary services for the South East region.  The purpose of the tender was to develop a framework of premises,  the members of which would then be offered services contracts depending on the level of demand for accommodation.  Each of the above premises was successful in being placed on the framework.  No new premises were offered as part of the RFT.  Due to the increase in demand for accommodation over the past year, contracts for services were offered to each of the framework members.

A contract for services will only be awarded to a framework member on the condition that they provide independent living (cooking facilities and a food hall) to residents, and family living spaces where applicable.  Each framework member is given a 16-week mobilisation period in which to implement these improvements.  Each of the premises listed above is currently undergoing mobilisation, and we anticipate that independent living will be in operation in each of the centres by Q4 of this year.  Introducing independent living will improve the standard of accommodation available to people seeking international accommodation in the South East, in particular for families and children.