Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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601. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide details on the proposals to issue tenders for floating accommodation to house international protection applicants; if such accommodation will also be used to house beneficiaries of temporary protection; the initial budgetary amount being ringfenced for these tenders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25957/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Department has received a number of offers of ‘floating accommodation’ in recent times. Consideration of such proposals comes in the wake of an unprecedented accommodation crisis.

Following detailed investigation and analysis of its use, and in consultation with various stakeholders including the Maritime Unit in the Department of Transport, my Department is expected to publish a Request For Tender (RFT) on eTenders, seeking flotel accommodation for international protection applicants (IPAs).

Details of where the flotels are to be berthed are still being finalised. There are currently no time lines on any potential publication but, subject to finalising berth(s), the RFT will be expedited.

There are no budgetary amounts ringfenced for this project at present. The costs will be paid from the Exchequer budget allocated to Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth/IPAS with the requisite engagement with Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform on the matter.