Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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963. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department is in the process of procuring factory premises in Shannon for the provision of additional accommodation capacity for persons in direct provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63739/22]

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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975. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a warehouse facility in Shannon, County Clare, is being converted for use as a direct provision centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1158/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 963 and 975 together.

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 which falls under the aegis of 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. In 2022, over 15,000 IPAs arrived in Ireland, the largest number of arrivals accommodated since records began. For context, the average arrival figure for IP applicants for the 3 year period from (2017 to 2019) was 3,500.  As of 9 January 2023, there are over 19,300 people accommodated in International Protection Application Services (IPAS) accommodation centres.  This compares with circa 7,500 people accommodated at the same time last year.

In parallel, Ireland has responded to the largest displacement of people on the European continent since the Second World War. Since 24 February 2022, the Department has worked to accommodate an unprecedented volume of persons seeking refuge from the invasion of Ukraine, amounting to almost 55,000 people.

The pressure to accommodate almost 75,000 people in such a short period of time has led to significant shortages, particularly for the international protection cohort. Access to suitable accommodation is severely constrained. The number of IPAs and Ukrainian BOTPs arriving in Ireland is expected to remain at elevated levels for the foreseeable future. The Department has been forced to avail of all offers of accommodation made, including the use of office buildings and tented accommodation, to address the shortfall. While the Department is aware that these types of accommodation are less than ideal it is working hard to find solutions, through the use facilities management companies in some cases, to offer emergency food, shelter and sanitation provision to both cohorts.

Emergency centres have been opened in all parts of the country. There have been over 60 accommodation locations utilised since January across 17 counties.

My Department cannot comment on individual buildings.  However, I can assure you that the Department considers all offers of accommodation from all areas of the country and when offers of accommodation are made to my Department they are carefully considered and appraised.