Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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558. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if IPAS procurement will provide an update to an accommodation owner (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22501/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Ireland has responded to the largest displacement of people on the European continent since the Second World War. Since February 2022, my Department has worked extensively to accommodate over 81,000 arrivals fleeing the war in Ukraine, of which 60,000 have sought accommodation from this Department.

Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe for all those who require it remains immensely challenging. Due to the urgent need to source accommodation, the Department has contracted in excess of 47,000 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 770 settings including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings.

The priority is to place people fleeing the war in safe and secure accommodation.

The offer of accommodation is greatly appreciated. I am advised by my officials within the relevant division that one of the requirements for a commercial offer of accommodation is to have a fire safety certificate issued by the Local Authority (County Council) for a category 2(a) or 2(b) building. I am further advised that the offer referred to has a fire certificate under category 1(c), not purpose group 2(a) or 2(b). The below link refers to the Technical Guidance Document B Fire Safety – Building Regulations 2006 and more specifically page 10 (page 23 of electronic document) outlines the classification of buildings by purpose group. My Department does not contract for residential dwellings, dwelling houses, private houses or apartments (category 1(a), 1(b) and 1(c)).

Where a residential dwelling becomes a guesthouse, hostel, hotel or B&B, it falls into category 2(b) and the relevant building regulations apply.

Title (a-b).qxd (Page a) - 0f55fb77-96a3-4dd5-8b93-7648880296e9.pdf (www.gov.ie)

I also wish to draw attention to the Government announcement of November 2022 regarding the call for unoccupied houses. The campaign to assist those fleeing the war in Ukraine may be of interest in the context of this offer and further information can be found at: offerahome.ie.

The initiative led by Local Authorities takes and manages offers of unoccupied houses, apartments or holiday homes to house people and families fleeing the war in Ukraine. As of May 2023, 2,677 beneficiaries of temporary protection have been accommodated under the Offer a Home Scheme. Property owners can offer homes at gov.ie/offerahome or by contacting the local authority in which their property is located.

More information on support available to Ukrainian people while they are in Ireland and information on how people and community groups can help can be found at the Government website: www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/bc537-irelands-response-to-the-situation-in-ukraine/

I trust this information is of assistance.