Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I thank the Deputy for his correspondence. Please see in tabular format per county the number of people in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation overall and those with a status that allows them to remain in Ireland currently residing in IPAS accommodation as of 6 April 2023.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I thank the Deputy, for his correspondence. There are 8 Housing Support workers employed with DePaul and 8 with the Peter McVerry Trust.

The role of the Housing Support Worker is to support those with status in IPAS accommodation and their transition into permanent/ long-term accommodation. They also provide additional place-finder staff where required.

The services provided by Housing Support include:

- Housing Assessment to identify needs and requirements;

- Assistance with registering with relevant Local Authority for Social Housing Supports including HAP;

- Identifying suitable properties;

- Arranging, attending and following up with property viewings when required;

- Practical assistance, i.e., assisting with start of tenancy agreements, utilities, setting up direct debits/standing orders.

The Department is currently working to finalise a tender process to deliver additional caseworkers in this area.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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1261. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are specific targets for each county that have to be met (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17615/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Under the Recast Reception Conditions Directive (SI 230 of 2018), the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is legally required to provide accommodation to international protection applicants who seek it while their claim for international protection is being determined by the International Protection Office which falls under the aegis of the Department of Justice.

The accommodation of international protection applicants (IPAs) and Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) is a demand-led process with applicants arriving in the country and seeking accommodation spontaneously.

There are no targets set for each county to receive a specific amount of IPAs or BOTPs. The Department receives offers of accommodation from commercial providers directly who are located all over the country.

The Department is open to seeking accommodation proposals from all over the country including the use of office buildings and sports facilities, to address the accommodation shortfall.

These options are necessary in order to provide shelter to international protection arrivals, to meet basic needs and to prevent homelessness.

Emergency centres for IP accommodation have been opened in all parts of the country. There have been over 130 accommodation locations utilised since January 2022 in 23 counties across Ireland.