Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

150. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the date on which each direct provision centre or emergency centre contract expires. [39128/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The table attached shows the contract end date for each privately-owned and emergency accommodation centre and in the case of the State-owned centres shows the end date for the management company contract.

All accommodation centres for people seeking international protection, whether State-owned or privately owned, are operated by commercial companies under contract. My Department contracts for an all-inclusive service, which includes catering services, as well as cleaning, maintenance and laundry services.

There are currently 7 State-owned accommodation centres and 38 privately-owned accommodation centres, one of which is the National Reception Centre in Balseskin, Co. Dublin.

My Department has also engaged 29 temporary accommodation centres and 3 additional premises for use during the current Covid-19 crisis. One is used for the safe self-isolation of international protection applicants who have tested positive or who are close contacts of someone who has tested positive. The other two premises are used for the quarantine of new applicants and residents who had left their accommodation and wish to return.

In addition my Department has contracted 3 premises for use as Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres (EROC) for refugees arriving in Ireland under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP).

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

151. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to increase the provision of direct provision accommodation in the Dublin 22 area and specifically with respect to an address (details supplied). [39144/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department has no plans to open an International Protection Accommodation Centre at the location referred to by the Deputy, nor have we any current plans to increase the provision of direct provision accommodation in the Dublin 22 area.

Premises are sourced either through a full tender process which is administered through the Government’s Procurement Portal www.etenders.gov.ie or through responses to calls for expressions of interest, which are advertised in the national media. My Department is assisted with these tender projects by the Office of Government Procurement.

The tender process which commenced in late 2018, saw regional tender competitions being advertised, assessed and awarded. The competitions were held for the South East, Midlands, Mid-West, South-West, Mid-East, West, Dublin and the Border Regions.

All properties selected under the tender process must be able to meet the requirements of the National Standards for accommodation centres. Any tender for the provision of accommodation centre services must demonstrate that it will meet the requirements of the Standards. This requirement applies to the provision of new centres and to any renewal of a contract with a current provider.

The Standards were published in August 2019 and developed through an Advisory Group including representatives from UNHCR Ireland and the NGO sector. The Standards will come into force in January 2021 and address a range of themes including accommodation; food and catering; individual, community and family life; health and wellbeing; governance; and meeting the special reception needs of applicants. The Standards will ensure that all new accommodation coming on stream must be able to meet the requirements for independent living by the provision of self-catering facilities for residents including a food hall and the availability of separate family spaces apart from bedrooms.