Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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665. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth which agency or body approved the use of Magowna House to accommodate applicants for international protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24304/23]

Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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666. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when Clare County Council was informed of the proposed change of use of Magowna House to accommodate applicants for international protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24305/23]

Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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667. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if Magowna House had been deemed unsuitable for recipients of temporary protection in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24306/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 665, 666 and 667 together.

In seeking to address the issues of unaccommodated international protection applicants currently and to prevent homelessness, the Department has been using Magowna House to accommodate adult male international protection applicants since Monday 15 May 2023. Magowna House has been procured to provide accommodation and shelter to the applicants while their claim for international protection is being assessed.

The property in question was offered through the portal for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTP’s) and was triaged and passed on to the procurement team.

However, no negotiations took place with the Ukraine procurement team as by that stage, the International Protection Procurement Section (IPPS) and their team took over discussions with a new provider that leased the property from the owner.

Clare County Council were contacted by IPAS on 16 March 2023 regarding this property. IPPS advised the provider to engage directly with Clare County Council on matters such as fire certification and regulatory compliance.

Properties such as Magowna House and others throughout the country are fundamental to the accommodation of vulnerable people and to prevent homelessness. Magowna House is accommodating 34 adult males presently in three external holiday homes to the main building which is awaiting sign off on the fire certificate from the Clare Fire Officer.

The external holiday homes currently accommodating asylum seekers do not require a fire cert and have bio tanks, smoke alarms, fire blankets and fire extinguishers in place.

The International Protection Accommodation Service has contracted Midwest Simon to provide additional supports to the international protection applicants living there to enable them to access education and training. This supplements the work being done by Clare County Council to link them with public services.