Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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424. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has received a request from the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to identify properties under the control of his Department or under the control of agencies under the remit of his Department for the purposes of providing accommodation to international protection applicants or beneficiaries of temporary protection; if he has identified potential properties and their locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7930/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that a request has been received from the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to identify properties under the control of my Department for the purposes of providing accommodation to international protection applicants or beneficiaries of temporary protection.

My Department has reviewed its property portfolio to identify land and buildings, and in the immediate aftermath of the invasion of Ukraine, my Department notified the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth of three properties that have the potential to be suitable for accommodation. However, extensive works would be required to make them properly habitable. Details of these three properties have been uploaded onto the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage Geo-spatial mapping database.

In addition, my Department has identified six sites that could potentially be used to meet the medium to long-term accommodation and housing requirements. Extensive ground works would be needed to prepare these sites for construction projects, as they are currently used for agricultural purposes and do not currently have the required services necessary to support residential needs.

I am very supportive of Minister O’Gorman’s efforts to ensure that Ireland continues to meet its international and humanitarian obligations and my Department continues to work with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in this regard.

As regards the 12 State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information requested is an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Agencies and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days.