Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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971. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to avoid housing international protection applicants in inappropriate or dangerous accommodation; and the position regarding contingency plans to avoid such situations arising when a shortage of accommodation arises. [63940/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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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, making it by far the highest yearly arrival figure to date. For context, the average arrival figure for IP applicants for the 3 year period from (2017 to 2019) was 3,500.

As at 9 January 2023, there are over 19,350 people accommodated in International Protection Application Services (IPAS) accommodation centres.  This compares with circa 7,500 people accommodated at the same time last year.

At the same time, 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, coming 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. 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.  

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.

It is important to note that there are inspections carried out under the current system.  At present, all IPAS permanent accommodation centres are subject to three unannounced inspections per year.  In 2022, inspections were carried out in each centre by an independent inspections company (QTS Ltd) and one by officials of the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS).  The third round of inspections were delayed as the usual mid-year round of inspections due to the Department’s response to the Ukraine crisis. 

In 2022, all IPAS centres with the exception of 2 permanent centres had 2 inspections carried out. 5 centres had 3 inspections carried out. A total of 110 inspections were completed by QTS Ltd. 59 of the above inspection reports have been published to date.

Inspections cover a wide range of issues including fire safety, appropriate signage and information for residents, the condition of communal areas and sleeping quarters, the quality of food provided and adherence to hygiene and other health and safety requirements.

It is the Government's intention that the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) will monitor permanent International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres against national standards as part of transitional arrangements for moving to the new model.  It is important that compliance with the national standards should be measured through on-site assessment.

Planning is well advanced on this process.  My Department has worked intensively with HIQA over the past two years to prepare for its monitoring role, and it is my intention that HIQA will commence inspections in early 2023 once legislation is in place. The aim is that this will be done by means of regulation and that these regulations will be finalised within the current Oireachtas session.

In advance of the introduction of independent monitoring, IPAS has taken steps to support adherence to the National Standards through its contract arrangements with accommodation centres. All properties selected under IPAS’ most recent tender process are required to be able to implement the National Standards.

The National Standards meet the requirements of the relevant legislation – the EU (recast) Reception Conditions Directive which Ireland opted into in June 2018.  These standards were adopted by Government in 2019 and have been in effect since the beginning of 2021.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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972. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when an invoice (details supplied) will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63951/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I am advised by my officials that the invoice referred to is being given priority for processing with a view to making payment as soon as possible.