Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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433. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of a long-standing offer of accommodation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6799/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I am advised by my officials that the relevant division within my Department has responded directly to the party referred to by the Deputy and the matter is under discussion.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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434. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of an offer of accommodation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6800/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The policy position of my Department is that nursing homes that were active since 1 September 2022 will not be considered for conversion to temporary accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection, regardless of the amount of time that has passed since closure. Throughout the winter and spring season, it is essential that capacity in the nursing home sector is preserved in order to ensure that there are no impacts that will increase delayed discharges from the hospital system.

More broadly, the nursing home sector has seen a high number of closures over recent months. I am advised that, due to the severity of the impact on the residents and staff, the Department of Health has put a number of measures in place to reduce incentives for providers to close, including supports with cost increases due to inflation.

Both Departments are engaging to keep the policy under review with regard to specific locations.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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435. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department will assist and make contact with a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6807/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department’s role is focused on the immediate, short-term accommodation needs of those who have fled to Ireland from the war in Ukraine. To date, more than 73,000 people have arrived in Ireland and in excess of 54,000 of those have been referred to this Department seeking accommodation from the State.

Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe for all those who require it remains immensely challenging. Due to the urgent need to source accommodation, my Department has contracted in excess of 42,000 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 700 settings including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings.

The priority is to place people fleeing the conflict in safe and secure accommodation.

I am advised that my officials are in discussions with the party referred to by the Deputy.