Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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74. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide a detailed briefing on plans to provide floating accommodation for international protection applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25749/23]

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. The 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 and various Port Authorities, the Department is expected to publish a Request For Tender on e-Tenders, seeking floating accommodation for international protection applicants (IPAs) in the coming weeks.

Details of where this accommodation will be berthed are still being finalised. Several sites are under consideration for berthing floating accommodation with discussion and engagement currently taking place with several Port Authorities.