Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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153. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on progress to secure large sites for the housing of refugees, as was issued in respect of pledges of accommodation in individual residential homes; and if he will report on his engagement with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in respect of same. [54125/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Ireland is now accommodating approximately 100,000 people between those fleeing Ukraine and International Protection applicants. This compares with 8,575 in February 2022. This includes over 73,000 Ukrainian people who have sought accommodation from the State and over 26,000 International Protection applicants currently in IPAS accommodation

Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe for all those who require it remains immensely challenging. Emergency accommodation by its nature requires properties that are ready for occupation as needed. My Department has engaged with contracts with a large number of providers of serviced and self catering accommodations of various sizes across the country.

My Department has not appealed to the public for large scale sites in the same way as calls for pledges of accommodation in individual residential homes by the Irish Red Cross (IRC) or local authorities. The IRC and LGMA recently refreshed their campaigns in this regard to seek further pledges and a continuation of existing pledged arrangements. These hosting arrangements by private individuals, whether as part of these campaigns or privately arranged have been invaluable in assisting Ukrainian BOTPs to find emergency accommodation.

Due to the urgent need to source accommodation, my Department is currently considering large scale sites through the refurbishment project and Modular sites.

Offers which require refurbishment are now considered under the auspices of the Department of Housing Local Government & Heritage (DHLGH) refurbishment programme. As part of the refurbishment programme DHLGH work closely with the local authorities to assess and progress viable state and private commercial offers of accommodation in line with the Guidelines for Temporary Accommodation.

The Department has launched an online portal for developer-led modular accommodation on gov.ie where providers can submit expressions of interest. This portal seeks offers for developments with a capacity of up to 200 BOTPs, encompassing the site, units and all management services associated with them. Modular accommodation may potentially provide a further sustainable medium-term solution to assist in meeting overall accommodation requirements, allowing BOTPs to integrate into communities and possibly setting the stage for future housing development at sites. This programme will help establish the feasibility of the approach from a cost perspective and the capacity of the private sector to deliver appropriate solutions. The portal can be accessed here: gov.ie - Offers and Expressions of Interest in Commercial Accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) from Ukraine (www.gov.ie/en/publication/d3422-offers-of-commercial-accommodation-for-beneficiaries-of-temporary-protection-botps-from-ukraine/)

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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154. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department is in the process of securing the use of Inchmore House (St. Anthonys) Clara, County Offaly, for the purpose of accommodating international protection applicants of beneficiaries of temporary protection; the efforts his Department has made to engage with the surrounding local communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54130/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Ireland is now accommodating approximately 100,000 people between those fleeing Ukraine and International Protection applicants. This compares with 8,575 in February 2022. This includes over 73,000 Ukrainian people who have sought accommodation from the State and over 26,000 International Protection applicants currently in IPAS accommodation.

My Department received an offer of accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) at the Former Boarding School, Inchmore House, Clara, Co. Offaly, R35 YX78.

The property is currently undergoing refurbishment as part of the Emergency Refurbishment (Ukraine) Project overseen by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The property has been offered to provide accommodation for people fleeing the war in Ukraine. The initial capacity will be approximately 88, subject to confirmation, and is expected to be ready in Q1 2024.

Both UCTAT and IPPS are operating in the context of a severe accommodation shortage. As a result, it is necessary for the Government to place Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection and International Protection Applicants in accommodation as and when it becomes available. This helps ensure accommodation is available for all those who seek it. In such circumstances the Government will work to ensure that local capacity; resources and knowledge are brought to bear on the overall humanitarian response and will work closely with Local Authorities to ensure a well-co-ordinated and seamless approach.

A Community Engagement Team (CET) has been established to engage directly with elected representatives, relevant Local Authorities, Local Development Companies, and other entities and individuals. The team engages with communities to provide a conduit for information on arrivals and also to address related issues arising in communities. The purpose of the team is to improve the flow of information regarding arrivals into areas and to help equip local communities with the accurate information required to help them understand the current situation and to assist with the welcome and integration process for new arrivals.

The team are also engaging with other stakeholders outside of immediate openings of centres to build relationships and networks with key groups this includes meetings with Community response Fora, Local Development Companies and other NGOs.

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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155. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the townhouse property in Tullamore has been secured for the purpose of accommodating international protection applicants of beneficiaries of temporary protection; the efforts his Department has made to engage with the surrounding local communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54131/23]

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, as part of the Whole of Government response the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has worked extensively to support approximately 101,000 people who have sought temporary protection in Ireland in fleeing, over 80% of whom have sought State supported accommodation.

My Department is focused on providing immediate, temporary accommodation to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. This has involved entering into arrangements with over 990 providers including hotels, guest houses and B and Bs, religious properties, with additional capacity operated by voluntary bodies and local authority emergency facilities.

I am advised that my Department has not considered the property to which the Deputy refers.