Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

104. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 1125 of 19 January 2022, if certain additional hotels (details supplied) are being used to provide emergency accommodation to persons in the international protection process; if these hotels are sufficient to meet the current demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6863/22]

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

As the Deputy will be aware, as international travel restrictions have lifted, there has been an increase in the number of new arrivals seeking international protection in Ireland.

In the period from 4 October 2021 to 6 February 2022, 2,969 new arrivals have sought International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) accommodation. This increase, if unaddressed, would place significant pressure on the National Reception Centre at Balseskin and on IPAS accommodation generally.

To address this, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has put in place five pre-reception facilities at five hotels in the Dublin area, including the three hotels mentioned by the Deputy.

There are psychosocial supports available in each facility. These are provided by DePaul Ireland and the Peter McVerry Trust.

My officials are closely monitoring capacity across the IPAS network and will continue to respond proactively to changes in demand for accommodation.