Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Due to continuing downward trends in beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTPs) seeking accommodation from the State coupled with increases in BOTPs leaving State provided accommodation to seek more independent living, vacancies have arisen in my Department’s portfolio of commercial accommodation. These vacancies are notified by providers and the numbers change daily in response to moves in and out of accommodation.

While vacancy numbers identified by providers as available appear significant, currently over 3,100, not all of these vacancies can be used in the short term. Many of these vacancies are already committed for certain moves and the number of usable vacancies is actually far lower.

Where a provider has decided not to renew a contract for example, or where my Department must end a contract with a provider due to compliance issues, the BOTPs in residence will need to be moved elsewhere in the portfolio. Currently, over 1,300 vacancies are committed to such moves.

In addition, my Department has recently undertaken a priority review of capacity within the BOTP portfolio to identify any vacancies that can be used for IPs in the short term and has begun engaging with providers in this regard. 500 spaces have been identified and actions are now underway to move applicants for international protection (IP) into these properties where BOTPs are and where vacancies exist with the agreement of the providers concerned.

Of the 3,100 potential vacancies, therefore, just 1,300 appear to be usable. Vacancies can only be validated and determined suitable for use, however, when moves into these vacancies are imminent. Certain geographical locations or room configurations can mean that they can be difficult to fill as accommodation must meet the particular needs of individual BOTPs and families. Many of the vacancies identified by providers turn out to be single beds in family rooms for example, which are only suitable for family reunifications. Real, usable vacancies are therefore not available on a county by county basis given these complicating factors.

My Department will continue to identify accommodation which can be used solely for IP where BOTP contracts are coming to an end subject to the agreement of the providers concerned. While this work is progressing as quickly as possible, this will be an ongoing process due to room configuration, contractual matters, and the potential to move BOTPs to alternative accommodation.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Due to continuing downward trends in BOTPs seeking accommodation from the State coupled with increases in BOTPs leaving State provided accommodation to seek more independent living, vacancies have arisen in my Department’s portfolio of commercial BOTP accommodation. These vacancy numbers change daily in response to moves in and out of accommodation and while they can appear significant at times, not all of these vacancies can be used in the short term.

Where a provider has not committed to renewing a contract or where an issue has been raised with my Department such that the provider’s offering is under review, vacancies cannot be used until these matters have been resolved. In addition, where contracts will end in the short term, a certain proportion of the portfolio of vacancies must be maintained so as to facilitate the movement of resident BOTPs.

Notwithstanding these limitations, my Department has recently undertaken a priority review of capacity within the BOTP portfolio to identify any vacancies that can be used for IPs in the short term and has begun engaging with providers in this regard. Up to 500 spaces have been identified and actions are now underway to move IPs into properties where BOTPs are and where vacancies exist with the agreement of the providers concerned.

Following the Government decision to implement a time limited accommodation offering for those seeking accommodation in the State, my Department has paused the procurement of commercial accommodation to accommodate BOTPs; providers visiting the offers portal are instead encouraged to consider accommodating IPs. Work has also begun to consolidate the wider BOTP portfolio so that it better aligns with future needs. Where contracts are being ended as part of this process, my Department will work to identify accommodation which could be suitable for use for IP. This is however a commercial decision to be made by the providers concerned and their agreement will be needed to make this happen.

While my Department is working to progress this as quickly as possible, this will be an ongoing process due to complexities of room configuration, contractual matters, and the requirement to move BOTPs to alternative accommodation.