Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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127. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the procurement processes used in the procurement of commercial direct provision centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37799/19]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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My Department currently has two separate ongoing procurement processes to identify and contract with privately owned properties for the provision of accommodation and ancillary services to persons seeking international protection – an expressions of interest process to meet immediate short-term demand and a full tender process to meet medium to long-term demand.

The expressions of interest process is advertised in the national media and seeks suitable premises on usually a one year contract. Any property offered to the Department under this process is inspected by an official to determine if it is suitable for the Department’s short-term needs.

The tender process, which is conducted through the government’s procurement portal www.etenders.gov.ieis a more in-depth process where bids are invited on a regional basis to meet a specification designed by the Department to deliver independent living for applicants in appropriate and safe surroundings. This process can take up to 5 months to go through the design, advertisement and evaluation stages. Following evaluation, bidders are advised whether they have been successful in being placed on a framework from which the Department can draw down accommodation, as required. Successful bidders have a further 16 weeks to complete all mobilisation works as set out in their tender bid before it becomes operational as an accommodation centre.

I am advised that, to date, the following regional competitions have progressed through the evaluation stage and are in the mobilisation phase; the South East, Midlands and the MidWest Regions. Evaluation is underway for the South West and Western Regions. The closing date for bids for the Mid East Region was the 16th September and evaluation will commence shortly. Advertisements for bids for the Dublin and Borders Regions are scheduled to be published by the end of this month.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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128. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the procurement process for direct provision services in the western region has concluded; if so, the details of the successful bidder; if not, when it will conclude; when the successful bidder will be announced; the number of applications received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37819/19]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the State has a legal obligation to offer accommodation, food, a range of other services (including utilities, healthcare etc.) and a weekly allowance to any person who claims a right to international protection in Ireland while their legal claim is being examined.

The number of applications for international protection has been steadily increasing and is up by 36% since the start of the year. To meet the associated increased demand for accommodation, my Department has initiated two processes to source additional accommodation. It has sought expressions of interest from parties who would be interested in providing accommodation and related services to people in the international protection process and has also launched a nationwide, regional tendering process.

Following the most recent tender process, an evaluation of offers is underway. I am advised that no decision has been taken as yet in relation to accommodation in the Western region for which eight bids were received. Therefore it would be inappropriate for me to comment further while the evaluation process is ongoing.  When the evaluation and other commercially sensitive aspects of the process are completed, the Department will begin engagement with local communities and their political representatives.  I am not in a position at present to say when the evaluation process will conclude.

I appreciate that local communities have many questions when they hear that a centre may be opening in their area. We already have a network of 38 centres across 18 counties. In all cases, there is positive engagement between residents and local communities including through the Friends of the Centre Groups. These Groups promote integration across the communities and are a valuable support to residents and to centre managers and staff.

In terms of local services and supports, once it is confirmed that an accommodation centre is opening in an area, my Department links in with the other State service providers to ensure that all the necessary supports are put in place. Where GP lists are full, the HSE will arrange for access to GPs who have availability in the surrounding area. The Department of Education and Skills ensures access to schools for children and, if required, school transport.  Children also have access to the free pre-school scheme, the Early Childhood Care and Education programme. The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection provides a weekly personal allowance to each resident and covers any exceptional needs. The system operates under a whole-of-Government approach to ensure the best outcomes for residents and for local communities.

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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129. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the tender documents for the new direct provision centres (details supplied) which his Department recently published have as a mandatory requirement of the tender, the provision of kitchen and cooking facilities in order that residents of these potential new centres can live under the independent living model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37851/19]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I can inform the Deputy that the specifications detailed in my Department's regional procurement processes, done through the eTenders online system, require that all bids must provide for independent living, i.e. that all residents are able to cook meals of their own choosing as well as providing designated living room space for families.

Any bidder that is successful in being placed on a framework and is drawn down from that framework has 16 weeks to carry out all necessary infrastructural works to deliver the independent living model as detailed in their tender submission.

I expect that the continued rollout of the independent living model will deliver significant improvements in living conditions and standards for residents, in particular families and children. I also recently published agreed National Standards for accommodation centres. The Standards will apply to all service providers contracted by the Department to operate and manage accommodation and reception centres. They provide a framework for the continued development of supports and services for residents by improving the quality of care and ensuring consistency across the centres. A copy of the Standards can be found on the Department's website .