Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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468. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many inspections of accommodation centres provided pursuant to the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 and centres accommodating beneficiaries of temporary protection, respectively, were carried out in each month of 2023, excluding inspections of prospective centres prior to occupation; and how many instances of a discrepancy between occupancy found and registers provided to the Department were found in each month. [3861/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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In relation to inspections of accommodation centres provided pursuant to the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 and centres accommodating Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection, figures for 2023 were not collated in the manner which the Deputy has requested.

There were over 200 inspections carried out in 2023 for International Protection (IP) and BOTP accommodation.

Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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469. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the purpose of inspections of accommodation centres provided pursuant to the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 and centres accommodating beneficiaries of temporary protection, respectively. [3862/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs)

I am advised by my officials that as part of the contractual arrangements with providers of accommodation for BOTPs, my Department sets out a number of requirements which providers must meet in terms of service provision, including delivery of key services, and compliance with all obligations in terms of health and safety, child protection, and other matters.

The purpose of inspections is to ensure that the accommodation provider is providing an accommodation service as contracted. This can include, for example, verifying that the property is commercial; it has the number of bedrooms agreed in the contract; meals are provided in full board accommodation; and kitchen and laundry facilities are available in self-catering accommodation. Inspections can be either ad hoc, following a complaint or query, or scheduled as part of a planned approach to reviewing contracted accommodation. Where appropriate, the inspection is unannounced.

The inspector will provide a report and any confirmed breaches of requirements are followed up with the accommodation providers. Failure to address contractual breaches may impact on payments to a provider or, in severe cases, could lead to the termination of contracts and relocation of BOTPs.

My Department has recently gone out to the market to procure inspection services under two lots, one for BOTP accommodation and the other for IP accommodation. It is anticipated that the contracts will be in place shortly.

International Protection (IP)

International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) has taken steps to support adherence to the National Standards through its contract arrangements with permanent accommodation centres.

These National Standards were developed to meet minimum standards set out in the EASO Guidance on Reception Conditions, the Recast Reception Conditions Directive and the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations. The National Standards address a range of issues relating to accommodation; food and catering; individual, community and family life; health and wellbeing; governance; and meeting the special reception needs of applicants seeking international protection. Compliance with the National Standards is measured through on-site assessment.

I am advised by my officials that as part of our contractual arrangements with accommodation providers we set out a number of requirements which providers must meet in terms of service provision. This includes the delivery of key services such as laundry, meals (including cultural/dietary requirements) in serviced accommodation and cooking facilities in self-catering accommodation, and compliance with all obligations in terms of health and safety and child protection. Any alleged breaches of the foregoing are investigated by my Department.

It is the Government's intention that the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) will monitor accommodation offered to people in the protection process for adherence to the National Standards, which were adopted by Government and published in 2019, and came into effect in 2021.

This agreement is time limited to the end of 2024, though it may be extended by agreement of my Department and the Minister for Health.

HIQA's role will apply to all ‘permanent’ centres contracted by the IPAS. ‘Emergency’ centres are subject to separate contractual arrangements. All IPAS accommodation centres are already subject to regular unannounced inspections, both by my officials in IPAS and by an independent inspectorate company.

Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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470. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline how the inspectors of accommodation centres provided pursuant to the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 and centres accommodating beneficiaries of temporary protection, respectively, verify the occupancy levels provided to his Department in respect of the said centre. [3863/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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International Protection (IP)

International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) works at all times to ensure accommodation is utilised in the most effective manner possible. All IPAS centres are subject to regular unannounced inspections, both by my officials in IPAS and by an independent inspectorate company.

Every IPAS centre is contractually obliged to record the name and Temporary Residence Certificate reference number of each resident in the official register of those seeking international protection on their arrival at the Centre and thereafter on a daily basis. Residents are recorded as ‘Present’, ‘Absent’ or ‘Bed held while in hospital.’

An updated copy of the register, including arrivals, departures, vacancies and reconciliation sheets are to be submitted to my Department on a weekly basis – as contractually obliged.

On the day of an inspection, a copy of the centre’s official register is requested. Inspectors check every contracted bedroom against the official register to determine if there are any discrepancies between occupancy on the day of inspection and the official register.

If an inspector determines that there are any such discrepancies, the relevant IPAS team responsible for bed management is immediately notified. For example, a resident may have vacated their accommodation just prior to the day of inspection. In this scenario, IPAS will arrange for the accommodation to be assigned to another international protection applicant.

Although any such discrepancies between actual occupancy and the official register may be noted in individual inspection reports, this information is not collated in the manner requested.

Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTP)

I am advised by my officials that as part of our contractual arrangements with accommodation providers for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) we set out a number of requirements which providers must meet in terms of service provision, including delivery of key services, laundry, meals (including cultural/dietary requirements) in serviced accommodation, and cooking facilities in self-catering accommodation, and compliance with all obligations in terms of health and safety, child protection etc.

Where my Department becomes aware of potential issues with a provider or where a specific concern is raised by residents, officials will request an inspection by an independent inspections company. Where appropriate, inspections are unannounced. The inspector will provide a report and any confirmed breaches of requirements are followed up with the accommodation providers. Failure to address contractual breaches may impact on payments to a provider or, in severe cases, could lead to the termination of contracts.

During these inspections that are solely for the purpose of verifying the safety and suitability of contracted properties, occupancy levels are not specifically checked, but may form part of the report if relevant due to overcrowding for example. During inspections where DCEDIY officials attend, however, occupancy levels are checked.

A new contract for Inspection Services for BOTP accommodation will be in place shortly.

Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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471. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many withdrawals or reductions of material reception conditions, respectively, were made in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively where the fact that a first instance decision in respect of the applicant's protection application has not been made can be attributed, or attributed in part, to the applicant or he or she, without reasonable excuse, is failing, or has failed to comply with an obligation under an enactment relating to the application, respectively. [3864/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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For DCEDIY to withdraw or reduce material reception conditions as outlined, the International Protection Office would be required to inform this Department of an applicants failure to comply with an obligation as part of the first instance process.

To the best of our records there has not been such a communication from the International Protection Office in respect of an applicant in the first instance process who has failed to comply with any obligation.

As such, this Department did not reduce or withdraw material reception conditions from any applicant in the years queried.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Temple Spa Accommodation Centre is located 9km east of Moate, located on a small local road so a bus stop for Bus Eireann services would not be an option as there would be no passing buses on this type of road.

To facilitate international applicants resident at the Temple Spa Accommodation Centre, there is a shuttle service contracted seven days a week for trips to and from Moate and Athlone. The service provides a twice-daily pickup and drop off from the centre, Monday to Thursday and Saturday, and once on Friday and Sunday.

Residents who require emergency or incidental transportation can avail of reimbursement of their taxi fares through their local Community Welfare Officer (CWO), once relevant documentation is supplied.

Where non-emergency transportation is required, the shuttle bus service allows residents to access recreational, educational, medical facilities and other services.