Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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289. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he and his Department will take to increase information provision to communities in relation to new international protection accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5907/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Since the beginning of 2022, Ireland and many other European countries are experiencing a significant increase of new arrivals seeking international protection (IP). The State has a legal and moral obligation to assess the claims of those who seek refuge and to provide accommodation and supports in line with the Recast Reception Conditions Directive (SI 230 of 2018).

Last year, over 15,000 people arrived in Ireland seeking accommodation while their applications for international protection are processed by the International Protection Office (IPO).  Over the period 2017-2019 an average of 3,500 people applied for protection each year. In the first month of 2023, over 1,200 people have arrived seeking international protection in Ireland.

Projected arrivals for 2023 based on arrivals to date suggest that over 14,100 people will arrive in Ireland seeking international protection. As at 29 January 2023, there are 19,635 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole, compared with 7,500 at this time last year.

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 is availing of all offers 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 and to meet basic needs and prevent homelessness. Emergency centres have been opened in all parts of the country.

There have been circa 60 accommodation locations utilised since January 2022 across 17 counties.

While efforts are made to notify public representatives and State agencies in advance of utilising a building for accommodation of IPAs, the emergency nature of the response required means that advance communications are not as comprehensive or as early as the Department would like.

Due to the sheer scale of the present crisis this inevitably means that emergency accommodation of those seeking refuge must be occupied on a faster timeline than would otherwise be the case.

Before the opening of any facility, the Department engages with local representatives to provide information as soon as possible following the agreement of terms with contractors.

These constraints limit the time window for advance consultation.  However, the Department is cognisant of these issues and is working towards improving advance communications for elected representatives, local authorities and local communities in this regard.