Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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462. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the capital and current spend by his Department attributable to addressing the accommodation and other needs of international protection applicants to date in 2022; and the projected spend for same for 2023.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62248/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Deputy,

My officials are collating the information in regard to this request currently and we expect to have the information with you early next week.

The reason for this short delay is because the projected spend for 2023 will be available in the Revised Estimates Volume, which will be published shortly.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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463. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of temporary rooms and beds acquired by IPAS within privately-owned accommodation (details supplied) to house international protection applicants to date in 2022. [62249/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Deputy, I can confirm that as of 4 December there were 10,568 International Protection applicants in temporary accommodation provided by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS). However, due to different room configurations, occupancy is not gathered on a room basis.

As you are aware, under the Recast Reception Conditions Directive (SI 230 of 2018), my Department is legally required to provide accommodation to international protection applicants who seek it while their claim for international protection is being determined by the Department of Justice.

The accommodation of International Protection Applicants (IPAs) is a demand-led process with applicants arriving in the country and seeking accommodation spontaneously.Since 1 January over 13,600 international protection (IP) applicants have arrived in Ireland. In the past 12 months this figure rises to just over 14,700. The average arrival figure for IP applicants for the three-year period from (2017 to 2019) is 3,500.

IPAS accommodation centres are currently hosting almost 18,000 people. At this time last year IPAS was accommodating 7,250 people.

Since 24 February 2022, the Department has worked to facilitate the accommodation solution for both IP applicants and over 49,000 Ukrainian beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTPs), an unprecedented volume of people seeking refuge in Ireland.

The pressure to accommodate over 67,000 people since the start of the year has led to significant shortages particularly for the international protection seekers. My Department has been forced to avail of all offers of accommodation made, including the use of office buildings, in order to address the accommodation shortfall.

Emergency centres have been opened in all parts of the country. There have been circa 40 accommodation locations utilised since January across 13 counties.

The Department is availing of all offers of accommodation made to it, including the use of office buildings and sports facilities, to address the accommodation shortfall. These options are necessary in order to provide shelter to international protection arrivals, to meet basic needs and to prevent homelessness.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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464. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the lease arrangement in place in Dolcain House, Clondalkin, Dublin, currently being used to provide temporary accommodation for persons applying for international protection; if the lease arrangement is being extended beyond three months; if there will be a charge for the lease after the three months; the length of any new lease agreement; the number of individuals and households currently residing in Dolcain House, with a breakdown of individuals by adults and children; and if he will provide a further breakdown of households by single-person households and households with children. [62258/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Deputy, my officials are currently in negotiations in regard to the Dolcain House lease arrangement.

As you are aware, I cannot comment on such negotiations as they are commercially sensitive.

As of 11 December, there are 180 single males accommodated in Dolcain House. There are no families, children or couples accommodated in the facility.

As of today there are almost 18,000 people accommodated in the IPAS accommodation system as a whole. At this point in 2021, there were approximately 7,250 persons in IPAS accommodation.

The pressure on this Department to accommodate over 67,000 people currently has led to significant shortages particularly for the international protection cohort.

All of the limited accommodation capacity within the IPAS system is currently being used. Given the significantly increased numbers of arrivals in the context of accommodation shortages, the Department has no option but to consider all offers of accommodation.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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465. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the process by which a company (details supplied) was awarded an IPAS accommodation contract that necessitates the eviction of refugees and asylum seekers from the accommodation in order that the accommodation can be 'upgraded' in order to meet the requirements of the new IPAS contract; if he will outline in detail the ensuing situation for those who cannot find alternative accommodation; the features that the new accommodation will provide; when it will be ready; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62260/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Deputy, under the Recast Reception Conditions Directive (SI 230 of 2018), the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is legally required to provide accommodation to international protection applicants who seek it while their claim for international protection is being determined by the International Protection Office.

As of 05 December 2022, there are 17,868 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole. This figure is in addition to the arrival of almost 61,000 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection in the last 10 months of whom, to date, over 48,000 are seeking accommodation assistance from the State as a result of the war in Ukraine. At this point in 2021, there were approximately 7,300 persons in IPAS accommodation.

The pressure to accommodate over 67,000 people since the start of the year has led to significant shortages particularly for the international protection cohort. The Department has been forced to avail of all offers of accommodation made, including the use of office buildings, in order to address the accommodation shortfall.

The Department continues to seek to acquire further accommodation to increase IPAS capacity and, on 18 January 2022, published a request for tender (RFT) to procure additional accommodation for singles, couples and families seeking international protection.

The company that owns and runs the referred to accommodation submitted a Tender response to my Department’s Request For Tender (RFT) published on eTenders- Project 100-21 - Bespoke Panel Agreement for the Provision of Accommodation Services and Related Services for Persons Seeking International Protection.

The company’s tender was evaluated and, subsequently, awarded a contract to provide accommodation for families and this allowed it to plan and commence mobilisation works. The company, as part of its tender, provided details of the mobilisation works it is required to carry out fully to meet the accommodation specification.

Mobilisation works include the reconfiguration of furnishings, removal of bunks, modifications to fire doors and windows, upgrade of floor coverings/lighting/curtains/blinds, repair of mechanical ventilation, upgrade to guarding/handrails, conversion of the office to a meeting room, conversion of bathrooms to create disabled access toilets and general redecoration.

In order to carry out these works, it is necessary for the accommodation to be vacated. The contractor has targeted to have all works completed by 20 March 2023, once residents have vacated in January 2023.

In the referred to accommodation, 18 out of the 22 households have come to the end of their international protection application and have some form of status or permission to remain in Ireland already granted to them. Depaul are assisting those households in sourcing accommodation in the community. As they have permission to remain in Ireland, they have the same entitlements to accommodation in the community as Irish nationals.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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466. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the areas of counties Westmeath and Longford that are currently undergoing works or that are being examined as suitable refugee or IPAS accommodation. [62317/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Deputy, it is not possible to provide the information sought due to the commercially sensitive nature of procurement negotiations.

My Department cannot comment on plans for accommodation in any specific area pending the agreement of rates, terms and contracts with providers.

However, I can assure you that the Department considers all offers of accommodation from all areas of the country and if offers of accommodation are made to my Department, they are carefully considered and appraised.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the current critical situation facing IPAS. As of 4 December 2022, there are 17,838 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole.

To date, over 61,000 Ukrainian refugees have come to Ireland under the Temporary Protection Directive and more than 49,000 have been accommodated by the State. Alongside this, there has been a substantial increase in the number of people seeking International Protection with over 13,600 arriving up to the beginning of December, with a prediction of over 14,700 by the end of the year.

Overall, my Department is now accommodating over 67,000 people, compared with 7,250 at this time last year.

All of the limited accommodation capacity within the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system is currently being used. Given the significantly increased numbers of arrivals in the context of accommodation shortages, the Department has no option but to consider all offers of accommodation.

Emergency centres have been opened in all parts of the country. There have been circa 40 accommodation locations utilised since January across 13 counties.

The Department is availing of all offers of accommodation made to it, including the use of office buildings and sports facilities, to address the accommodation shortfall. These options are necessary in order to provide shelter to international protection arrivals, to meet basic needs and to prevent homelessness.

I trust this information satisfies your query, Deputy.