Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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353. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on outstanding payments to an accommodation centre for Ukrainian refugees (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20468/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department is prioritising maintaining a practice of more timely payments, including providing more resources to address any issues, and outsourcing of elements of the process to speed up processing and respond to supplier calls. Any delays in making payments are deeply regretted and my Department is according this issue very high priority.

One of the outstanding invoices referred to in the Details Supplied has been processed for payment and a payment is expected to issue in the coming weeks pending final checks. My officials are engaging with the provider in order to ensure that all outstanding invoices will be compliant with my Department’s requirements for payment.

My Department will continue to press on to eliminate the payments backlog while ensuring appropriate governance is in place to safeguard the proper spending of Exchequer funding.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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354. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will clarify the current position in respect of properties acquired in Cork city by his Department or by companies or organisations working with his Department in the provision of accommodation for asylum seekers, or refugees from Ukraine; if he will set out in full the number of properties currently being used; the number of properties which are vacant but which shortly will come in to use; the total number of asylum seekers/refugees now provided with accommodation in Cork city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20481/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I am advised by my officials that the Ukraine Crisis Temporary Emergency Team (UCTAT) within my Department has accommodated a total of 1,068 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection in 22 properties in the Cork City Council Local Authority Area.

There are currently 11 properties in use by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS), with 1,380 International Protection Applicants (IPAs) being accommodated in County Cork, 576 of which are residing in Cork City.

A further 6 properties are currently under consideration in County Cork by the Department. Full assessments of these properties are underway at present, and, if a contract is agreed, it is hoped that these properties can be brought into use.

I am further advised that vacant properties fall within the remit of the Department of Housing. Local Government and Heritage and that the relevant Local Authority is the appropriate contact point regarding such information.