Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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542. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will confirm that a hotel (details supplied) is to be utilised for use as accommodation centre for those within the asylum, international protection system here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11138/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the lifting of restrictions on international travel has caused a sharp increase in the number of new arrivals seeking international protection accommodation in Ireland, with over 3,300 new arrivals from 1 October 2021 to 20 February.

Due to this fact, the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of my Department has witnessed a knock-on effect on the capacity levels at the National Reception Centre (NRC) in Balseskin.

IPAS has engaged a number of pre-reception centres to provide accommodation for the increasing number of new arrivals. There are currently six pre-reception facilities operating in hotels across Dublin. At this time IPAS is not in a position to comment on the ongoing contractual discussions that are in play for these facilities due to the commercially sensitive nature of the negotiations.

As you know Deputy, my Department published a Request for Tender to procure additional accommodation for singles, couples and families seeking international protection on 18 January 2022. The deadline for submissions was 21 February 2022. This tender process is a key part of my Department’s strategy to end reliance on emergency accommodation and it is anticipated that it will assist in alleviating the accommodation pressures currently being experienced.