Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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806. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department and all bodies under his Department's aegis have reviewed their estates portfolio in the context of identifying unoccupied buildings that may be suitable for use in the context of meeting the accommodation needs of persons arriving in Ireland from Ukraine. [54218/22]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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807. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number and type of unused and-or unoccupied buildings in his Department's estates portfolio and all bodies under his Department's aegis. [54236/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 806 and 807 together.

The procurement, purchase and rent of Government offices is the responsibility of Property Management Services in the Office of Public Works, which acts as an agent for all Government Departments and offices. I can confirm to the Deputy that an office space was acquired in September 2021 for my Department’s Head Quarters at 52 Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2. I can also confirm that there are no suitable unoccupied buildings in my Department’s portfolio.

The Further and Higher Education sector has been open in response to the needs of those people arriving from Ukraine. My Department’s officials engaged with the Irish University Association in relation to the use of student accommodation over the summer months. 4,500 beds were identified for use at various times over the summer period, with 2,000 provided by the University Sector, with the remaining 2,500 available through private providers.

My Department’s officials also have reviewed information available to us through calls to the sector seeking potential sites for development. Through this engagement and research, one area of land which may have been suitable for development or housing was identified. This information was provided to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage who were leading on the matter.

I am conscious that there continues to be an urgent need to source accommodation and I can assure the Deputy that my officials remain engaged on this issue.