Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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244. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the process which will be utilised when engaging with local communities that have been chosen as possible locations for potential direct provision centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43027/19]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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My Department is working to secure new accommodation centres for International Protection applicants, as the number of people arriving to seek protection in the State continues to rise  (figures are up 53% to date this year). Because of a shortage of places in our accommodation centres, there are now almost 1,500 people in emergency accommodation in hotels and guesthouses. 

My Department is actively working on securing additional capacity, both in its existing centres and through sourcing new accommodation centres. The International Protection Procurement Service of my Department 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 to source new accommodation centres.

When the evaluation and other commercially sensitive aspects of the each tendering process are completed, the Department will begin engagement with local communities and their political representatives.   The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot therefore comment on the possible location of any new centres as yet.

I appreciate that local communities have many questions when they hear that a centre may be opening in their area.  I can assure the Deputy that my officials will engage with local representatives and service providers to allay any concerns that there may be at the earliest opportunity. 

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 preschool 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.

As the Deputy may be aware,  there is 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.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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245. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will publish the evaluation due for completion in mid-November 2019 outlining potential new locations in the western region for direct provision centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43028/19]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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My Department is working to secure new accommodation centres for International Protection applicants, as the number of people arriving to seek protection in the State continues to rise  (figures are up 53% to date this year).  

I wish to advise the Deputy that the assessment process for the Western Region is on-going.  Due to commercially sensitive aspects of the evaluation process,  I am not informed of the locations of the premises offered for consideration until the process is complete.

Following completion of the assessment process, the successful bidders will be advised of their placing on the framework.  As the Department draws down from the framework, those bidders will be advised of any required mobilisation works to be commenced before a contract can be signed and the centre can become operational.  As the Deputy is aware, the projected completion of the assessment phase is mid-November, however,  that is subject to all compliance checks and site visits being completed on schedule.

My Department will engage as soon as possible with the local elected representatives and state service providers in the area in relation to the individual centres and in order to allay any concerns about impacts on local services.  My Department is conscious that the general public will have questions about any new centres and is working to ensure that information can be released as early as possible.