Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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642. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the forthcoming allocation scheme for housing international protection applicants. [50390/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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 As the Deputy knows, on 26 February of this year I published A White Paper to End Direct Provision and to Establish a New International Protection Support Service. This document outlines the future system of accommodation and supports that will be offered to applicants for International Protection (also known as asylum-seekers) and will replace the current system (commonly known as Direct Provision). This new system will have human rights at its core, helping to ensure that all applicants are treated with dignity and respect.

My Department began to implement this extensive programme of reform when the White Paper was adopted by Government.

An allocation key to determine the spread of this accommodation across all counties has been agreed by Local Authorities through the County and City Management Association and this is what we are using to determine where to acquire properties.

Working closely with the Housing Agency, my Department has developed the detailed parameters for the accommodation that will be required for Phase Two - that is, after people have completed their initial four-month period in a Reception and Integration Centre and move into the community.

Based on these parameters and using the allocation key agreed by the City and County Management Association, my Department has begun to source accommodation, with the assistance of the Housing Agency, focusing initially on turnkey properties and those in need of some refurbishment.