Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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537. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in view of the extreme displeasure he has expressed in his email of 28 April 2023 to elected representatives (details supplied) regarding the actions of persons providing services to his Department under an activated contract, the nature of engagements he has had with the service provider; and if he and or his officials have met with the service provider and or persons acting on its behalf. [21250/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My official have engaged and continue to engage with the provider regarding the matter in question and in relation to other properties.

The Department sought explanations for the actions that took place on the site and will address any issues with the provider as appropriate.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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538. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 1246 of 18 April 2023, if the service provider and-or persons acting on behalf of the provider for the property in question have referred the declaration made by Kildare County Council for a review by An Bord Pleanála (details supplied); if his attention or that of his officials has been drawn to the fact that the statutory time limit for any such referral has passed. [21251/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As the Deputy is aware, last year, over 15,000 people arrived in Ireland seeking accommodation while their applications for international protection are processed by the International Protection Office (IPO). In the first seventeen weeks of 2023, almost 3,200 people have arrived seeking protection.

In addition, the Department has had to re-accommodate over 2,500 people in situations where hotel and short term emergency locations have ended in 2023. As at 8 May, there are 557 international protection applicants who have not been accommodated by IPAS, many of whom have no accommodation at all.

In this severely pressurised context, the Department has been informed that the provider for the property in question has requested an application for a Declaration pursuant to section 5 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended, concerning the proposed use of the property as private accommodation for persons seeking international protection, and certain limited internal works carried out to update and maintain the property.

In accordance with Section 5 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended, any person may request a declaration as to whether development is exempt. The provider is now awaiting a response from Kildare County Council.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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539. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 1246 and 497 of 18 and 25 April 2023, if he and-or his officials have engaged with the local authority in the context of its determination that the building environs, the building and changes of use regarding same require planning permission; if he and-or his officials have met with local authority officials in respect of the matter; and if he will set out the details of those engagements (details supplied). [21252/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My officials have had limited engagement with Kildare County Council on the matter in question. The planning matters at hand are being addressed between the Council and the accommodation provider directly and the Department will await the outcome of those proceedings.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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540. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will point this Deputy to the statutory instrument that he is referring to in his email of 28 April 2023 to elected representatives regarding the use of a building (details supplied) under contract to his Department. [21253/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Statutory Instrument in question is S.I. No. 582/2015 - Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2015.