Written answers

Thursday, 27 April 2023

Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

International Protection

Photo of Violet-Anne WynneViolet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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331. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the building of modular homes by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19929/23]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As the Deputy will be aware, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 over 72,565 people have been forced to leave their homes and have sought refuge here in Ireland. To date 63,175 of those who arrived in Ireland have sought accommodation from the State.

In response to the crisis, the Government has sought to provide a range of accommodation solutions. As part of this considerable national effort, the Government has approved the construction of 700 rapid build homes on state owned land, which will aim to provide accommodation to 2800 individuals in family units.

The OPW is leading on the design, development and delivery of the programme. My Department is the Approving Authority for the Programme and has responsibility for the ownership of the homes and their future use.

To identify sites for the programme, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage sought information from public authorities on sites in their ownership, which might be suitable for the installation of the homes. On foot of the responses received, the Department provided a shorter list of potentially suitable sites to DCEDIY and OPW.

The emphasis of this programme is on the delivery of quality homes which will enhance local environments and this has been a priority. Once completed, these developments will be to a high standard and will include permanent infrastructure, high quality public realm, streets, water, waste, roads, pedestrian routes, lighting, landscaping, semi-private front curtilage and small private rear gardens.

Work is well underway on the first phase of 7 sites, with the delivery of units already happening on a number of those sites in preparation for the start of a phased occupation over the next few months. So far, locations in Cavan Town, Mahon in Cork, Thurles, Sligo Town, Claremorris, Rathdowney and Clonminch are being progressed.

The first of the sites at Mahon in Cork and Cavan Town will be completed for handover to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) around end-May/early June 2023, with residents expected to be able to move in from mid-June onwards. This is subject to any technical issues arising during construction.

Photo of Violet-Anne WynneViolet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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332. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide a breakdown of the full costs associated with his Department's building of modular homes, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19930/23]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The average cost of each of the rapid build homes is €145,000. This includes construction, transport and installation of the units. Information on the full cost of the programme is currently subject to site enabling costs. Identification of sites to house the full 700 units is currently ongoing.

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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333. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of people who have relocated to a county (details supplied) [19939/23]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As of 24 April 2023, I am advised that the total number of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection in accommodation arranged for them by my Department in Co. Mayo is 2,950. The information requested regarding breakdown has been extracted from our systems and is outlined in tabular form below.

BOTPs in Accommodation provided by DCEDIY each month.

2022

- Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Grand Total
Mayo 244 133 121 33 151 164 368 769 289 191 2463

2023

- Jan Feb Mar Apr Grand Total
Mayo 101 93 161 132 487

Total bookings – 2950

IPAS in Accommodation provided by DCEDIY each month

Date No of Centres No of residents Increase / Decrease
Jan-22 1 221
Feb-22 1 230 9
Mar-22 1 233 3
Apr-22 1 226 -7
May-22 1 230 4
Jun-22 1 232 2
Jul-22 1 239 7
Aug-22 2 293 54
Sep-22 3 305 12
Oct-22 4 349 44
Nov-22 6 594 245
Dec-22 5 607 13
Jan-23 5 638 31
Feb-23 5 650 12
Mar-23 7 740 90
to 16 Apr 2023 9 825 85

Photo of Eoin Ó BroinEoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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334. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the situation of a person (details supplied) requested to leave their allocated IPAS accommodation. [19946/23]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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This case is currently being considered by IPAS officials who are reviewing the case in conjunction with other partners. A decision is expected shortly. The resident has been made aware of the review.

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