Written answers

Thursday, 17 November 2022

Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

International Protection

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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237. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number people seeking international protection in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57090/22]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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This is a matter more appropriate for my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Justice.

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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238. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide a list of the properties provided to his Department for potential use as accommodation for Ukrainians by the Department of Housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57091/22]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I can advise the Deputy that my officials are working closely with officials in the Department of Housing to identify accommodation for people who have fled the Ukraine war and are Beneficiaries of the Temporary Protection Directive (BOTPs).

The Department of Housing has worked with local authorities to identify potential commercial accommodation for BOTPs in each country, including hotels, B and B’s and hostels, which were passed to my officials for follow up. The Department of Housing has submitted over 5, 000 potential accommodation places to my Department under this initiative.

Some commercial accommodation has been offered to my Department through a number of channels – via the Department of Housing, local authorities, local representatives and/or directly by the accommodation provider. Due to the multiple offers of the same accommodation my Department does not record the source of the accommodation offer when it is contracted, so it is not possible to provide the requested information.

My Department is also working with officials in the Department of Housing on potential properties which require refurbishment before they can be considered suitable for accommodation for BOTPs.

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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239. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide a list of the proposed locations for the delivery of modular housing by the OPW for accommodation for Ukrainian refugees and those seeking international protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57092/22]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Government has approved the construction of 500 modular accommodation units for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection fleeing the war in Ukraine. These homes will have the potential to house up to 2,000 individuals in family units. The modular units will be constructed on state owned land.

The OPW is leading the development of this accommodation in conjunction with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY). The objective is to install 500 units by February/March 2023.

All the modular sites will have roads, footpaths, street lighting and community facilities, including a playground and green spaces fully in line with Local Authority planning guidance. The modular homes will be highly energy efficient, durable units with a 60-year lifespan and the development of the sites will be conducted in an environmentally sustainable way to ensure that, post development, the site will enhance the local area.

Deputies and Senators in each constituency where the modular units are planned will receive a full briefing from officials of my Department and the OPW, which will explain the scope and duration of the project and will confirm that these units will be used primarily to provide short-term accommodation to families with children. DCEDIY and the OPW are also engaging directly with Local Authority officials in respect of each site.

The county’s Community Response Forum will be responsible for coordinating the integration of refugees into local areas. My Department is funding additional workers in each local authority to support the integration of new arrivals into the local areas. The Government is also providing funding for community initiatives to support persons displaced by the war in Ukraine.

Regarding the specific matter raised, I can advise the Deputy that the information sought is available to view on the Gov.ie portal website, link attached for information.

www.gov.ie/en/publication/ef882-rapid-build-housing/#where-sites-for-rapid-build-homes-will-be-located.

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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240. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide a list of all contracts that have been awarded for the provision of accommodation for Ukrainian refugees and those seeking international protection since February 2022 and the value of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57093/22]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I am advised by my officials that the below table lists all contractual arrangements that have been in place for the accommodation of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in 2022, including a small number that have lapsed or are no longer being availed of.

In respect of contractual values, the Deputy will appreciate that there are certain commercial sensitivities around this, but I can confirm that my Department is obliged to publish a list of formally signed off contracts each quarter that have been awarded under the special EU Derogation that permits the Department to enter into contracts in the context of the Ukraine crisis without going to formal tender.

The Deputy should note that these published values of the contracts are estimates; the actual value materialises upon occupancy and actual usage. Standard contracts have no-fault termination clauses available to both parties so again, the figures are indicative rather than actual.

While these quarterly lists are extensive, they do not encompass all contracts as the formal exchange of contracts can take place some time after the service commences.

The Q1, Q2 and Q3 reports can be found on the TED website:

Q1: ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:237209-2022:TEXT:EN:HTML

Q2: ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:424540-2022:TEXT:EN:HTML

Q3: ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:608491-2022:TEXT:EN:HTML&src=0

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