Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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622. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when additional cooking facilities will be sanctioned at a centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10044/21]

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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623. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to concerns amongst residents at a centre (details supplied) regarding the standard of food; the actions being taken to address these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10045/21]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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632. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10273/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 622, 623 and 632 together.

I am aware of the concerns that have been raised by the residents of Ashbourne House Accommodation Centre. The health and wellbeing of all residents is the highest priority for both myself and my officials in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS).

My Department takes complaints from residents very seriously. All residents of accommodation centres are made fully aware of their ability to contact IPAS at any time in confidence.

With regard to the issues raised, IPAS has been in touch with the management of Ashbourne House. The management in Ashbourne House have also met with residents’ representatives last week to discuss their concerns.

IPAS held a virtual clinic on Monday 22 February for residents in the centre to give them an opportunity to elaborate further on their concerns. IPAS has undertaken to look at the issues raised with a view to resolving them.

The Jesuit Refugee Service is also on hand to provide a confidential helpline service to residents at the centre should they wish to raise their concerns with an independent body. IPAS understands that not everybody feels comfortable contacting the Department directly so the helpline can be used to discuss issues or problems they are having with their accommodation or other issues of concern in confidence. The services of the Ombudsman are also available to residents should they wish to make a complaint about any services provided to them by the State.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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624. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the White Paper on ending direct provision will be laid before Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10090/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The White Paper was submitted to Government for consideration at its meeting of 23 February. Subject to Government decision, it is my intention to publish it in the coming days.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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625. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of all contracts with private companies providing direct provision accommodation, including the monetary value of each contract and the expected expiry date of same in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10091/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department currently has contracts in place for 48 accommodation centres, including management contracts for 7 State owned centres. The 48 centres comprise 45 accommodation centres for International Protection applicants including the National Reception Centre for International Protection applicants in Balseskin, Co. Dublin and 3 Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres (EROC) for refugees brought to Ireland under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP). It should be noted that Mosney Accommodation Centre provides accommodation for both International Protection applicants and, in a separate block, for IRPP clients.

The table attached provides contract information for each of these centres. However it is our policy not to disclose financial information on individual contracts for the most recent two calendar years. It is not appropriate to provide the current individual contract values entered into by my Department as negotiations take place with a number of commercial entities on an on-going basis with a clear focus on achieving the best value for money in respect of each contract. It is not in the interests of yielding best value for the taxpayer that the details of current individual contracts are made available to other commercial bodies who are, or may be in the future, engaged in these negotiations.

Contract information is published on an annual basis each January. Details of payments made to contractors are published on . Our policy document on the release of financial information on contract values is also available on this webpage.