Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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537. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the meeting of the Kinnegad Steering Group and officials from his Department on 30 September 2022, where, despite repeated requests from the representative group, no follow-up has been provided. [4735/23]

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 IPAS accommodation 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.

In regard to your query, following a meeting between Department officials and community representatives on 30 September 2022, the property's use was changed from that of accommodating International Protection applicants (IPAs) to one of accommodating Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. A significant proportion of the IPAs have since been moved to other locations and represent only a quarter of residents presently. All IPAs are scheduled to be relocated once suitable accommodation becomes available. 

Unfortunately, due to the current acute difficulty in securing alternative accommodation, it has not been possible to complete this process but it will be done as soon as is feasible.

The challenge of sourcing accommodation for over 73,000 people, between people fleeing the war in Ukraine and those seeking international protection, is immense. The Department is managing the largest humanitarian response ever mounted in the history of the State.

The Department appreciates the welcome and solidarity shown by so many Irish people in every county in Ireland for those who need safety and shelter, including from those in Kinnegad.