Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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159. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department is engaging with relevant stakeholders to ensure that refugees placed in accommodation in isolated areas will have access to transportation for basic requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50619/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Deputy, I can confirm that my Department engages with relevant stakeholders and accommodation service providers as appropriate to ensure that international protection applicants placed in accommodation in isolated areas will have access to transportation for basic requirements.

The International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) try to ensure in as far as possible that international protection applicants are not located in remote locations. In situations where a centre is located in an isolated area without public transport links, IPPS will ensure that a shuttle bus service to a nearby town or public transport stop is provided.

This Department engages with the Department of Transport, as the need arises, regarding the expansion of the Local Link network for both international protection applicants and beneficiaries of temporary protection.