Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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251. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade 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. [7936/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have received the correspondence referred to by the Deputy and can confirm that it has been given careful consideration.

My Department has 12 premises in the State, all of which are provided by the OPW and required for office use by the Department. A total of 5 of the 12 buildings are occupied by the exceptionally busy Passport Service - 2 in Balbriggan; 1 in Mount Street; 1 in Cork and 1 in Tallaght. Because of current pressure on the Passport Service the Property Management Unit has also had to temporarily allocate Passport Service colleagues to space in our building in Clare Street.

Of the remaining buildings in the State, most are rented and could not be converted or used for the purpose of providing residential accommodation without engagement with the landlords, through the OPW. None are planning-approved or indeed suitable for use as residential accommodation, including not having sufficient bathroom, washing, laundry or kitchen facilities.

The large majority of buildings managed by my Department are abroad, are used as office accommodation for our Embassies and Consulates, and would not be suitable for the purposes of providing accommodation to international protection applicants.

I can also advise the Deputy that my Department takes part in the weekly Senior Officials Group meetings and is cooperating with other Departments who are all working together to help those fleeing from war-torn areas.