Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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271. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures that are in place to clear the backlog of IPAS payments to accommodation providers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2516/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department has engaged over 700 properties to provide accommodation for Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. In line with my Department’s commitment to substantially clear the backlog at the end of 2022, my Department temporarily re-assigned staff from other parts of the Department to the payments team in December, doubling the size of the payments unit. The enlarged team approved more than 100 million euros worth of payments.

My Department is prioritising maintaining a practice of more timely payments, including providing more resources to address any issues. We regret any delays in making payments and are according this issue very high priority.

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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272. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps that are being taken by the International Protection Accommodation Service to protect the safety and security of residents and staff at a location (details supplied); if such measures are also being rolled out at all other international protection accommodation service locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2465/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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In regard to your query, a serious isolated incident occurred in Killarney on New Year’s Day, following which a number of arrests were made. A number of people are currently before the courts in relation to the events. IPAS is in close contact with the centre’s management.I have also engaged with the Minister for Justice to ensure that, in conjunction with An Garda Síochána, measures will be taken to ensure the safety and security of the residents and staff. This remains a priority in the short to medium term.

It must be highlighted that this was an isolated incident in the context of providing accommodation to almost 75,000 people.

I trust this information clarifies the matter.

Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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273. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to provide additional accommodation for international protection applicants; if it is proposed to provide new accommodation at a location (details supplied) for such applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2490/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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While the Department is considering offers of buildings to be repurposed for accommodation, my officials can confirm that it does not possess a record of this property, that no offer has been made in respect of same and that it is not under consideration for use as international protection accommodation.

To provide some context as to the pressure the Department is under to procure accommodation for arriving international protection applicants (IPAs) you should note that the accommodation of international protection applicants (IPAs) is a demand-led process with applicants arriving in the country and seeking accommodation spontaneously.

During the twelve months of 2022, over 15,000 people have arrived in Ireland seeking accommodation while their applications for international protection are processed by the international protection office. In the first 15 days of 2023, 633 people have arrived seeking international protection in Ireland.

As of 9 January 2023, there are over 19,300 people accommodated in the IPAS accommodation system as a whole. This includes the National Reception Centre and IPAS accommodation centres, City West transit hub and emergency accommodation. Of this total, 4,010 are children.

At this point in 2022, there were approximately 7,500 persons in IPAS accommodation.

These figures are in addition to the arrival of almost 65,000 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection since 24 February 2022, as a result of the war in Ukraine. To date, over 55,000 BOTPs have sought and received accommodation assistance from the State.

The pressure on the State to accommodate almost 75,000 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.

Emergency centres have been opened in all parts of the country. There have been circa 60 accommodation locations utilised since January across 17 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 clarifies the matter, Deputy.