Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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193. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport 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. [7946/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Since the Ukraine crisis commenced, my Department has received a number of requests from Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to identify relevant properties under the control of my Department or aegis bodies. In respect of the latest request, the position is set out below.

All office and other accommodation occupied by the Department of Transport is provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW) which is responsible for the procurement of office and other accommodation required for Government Departments.

The Department had planned, in consultation with the OPW, to relocate from their existing building in Shannon to a new office which had been purchased by the OPW. Given the acute refugee housing needs, and our commitment to supporting the broader Government efforts to address the accommodation crisis, we offered, through OPW, to make the new office building available to DCEDIY. We understand that the OPW and DCEDIY are progressing with plans in this regard.

The Departments’ own properties consist of Coast Guard buildings which are generally small in nature, are required for the conduct of Irish Coast Guard facilities and do not fit the description of accommodation being sought for the housing of refugees.

I will revert with the latest position in relation to agencies within ten working days.