John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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520. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of applications received by International Protection Accommodation Services, for each county, from property owners offering accommodation for refugees that have yet to be processed; if all applicants have been notified of the status of their application and of the likely timeframe for a decision; if the funding for the refugee programme is being met solely by the Exchequer; and if European Union funding is being provided. [4044/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Deputy, as of 22 January 2023, there are over 19,800 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole.

In regard to your query, I can confirm that no offers from providers that are willing to accommodate international protection applicants (IPAs) are outstanding presently and each proposal is expedited as quickly as possible give the acute accommodation for IPAs at present.

Unfortunately this shortfall is impacting on the single male cohort in particular as a large volume of accommodation providers make offers for family configurations more so than single males.  

All offers of accommodation for IPAs are in the process of being evaluated for use from the moment an offer is received.  

In regard to your query relating to applicants with offers of accommodation being notified of the status of their application, there is an ongoing appraisal and agreement of terms process that is not subject to delay currently. However, delays may occur with respect to the timelines for delivery encountered by accommodation providers on commercial leasing or ownership arrangements being engaged in by providers or through building or refurbishment practicalities. This is in the control of the contractor rather than this Department.  The International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) works diligently at all times with providers to expedite these projects in as far as it can.

In relation to the funding of IPAS accommodation and ancillary services, this is met solely by the Exchequer presently.

I trust this information clarifies the matter.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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521. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of commercial buildings currently being used by international accommodation services to provide temporary accommodation to international protection applicants and Ukrainians with temporary protection, broken down by local authority area; the number of persons residing in these buildings in each local authority area; and if each individual building has a fire safety certificate for residential occupancy. [4099/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Deputy, as of 22 January 2023, there are over 19,800 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole. This includes the National Reception Centre and IPAS accommodation centres, City West transit hub and emergency accommodation locations nationwide.

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

These figures are in addition to the arrival of over 66,000 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection since 24 February 2022, as a result of the war in Ukraine over 53,500 of whom have sought accommodation from The State.

In regard to your query relating to the total number of commercial buildings currently being used by IPAS to provide temporary accommodation to IPAs and Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs), broken down by local authority area; the number of persons residing in these buildings in each local authority area; and if each individual building has a fire safety certificate for residential occupancy, please see the requested information in tabular form below. 

International Protection Procurement Services (IPPS) can confirm that the majority of the commercial buildings being used by IPAS to provide accommodation for people seeking international protection have valid fire safety certs for residential occupation. 

One building has a validation process in train and has already had significant remedial works carried out to mitigate fire safety issues.  

Although the building has a valid fire cert for office use, one building did not secure a valid fire safety certificate for residential use and, in consultation with the Chief Fire Officer of Dublin Fire Brigade, is in the process of being vacated. Remedial works will begin in addressing all issues once the building has been fully vacated.

The request for information in relation to commercial buildings in use for the Ukraine response has been requested from their procurement team and is currently being collated. My officials will inform the Minister's office as soon as this information is made available.