Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Since the beginning of the crisis, over 105,000 Ukrainians have arrived in Ireland and recognised as beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTP). My Department has successfully assisted over 73,000 with state supported accommodation. Over 53,000 BOTP are currently residing in State funded temporary accommodation in approximately 1,000 locations at which such accommodation is provided by private providers on contract with my Department.

My officials inform me that approximately 300 contracts with my Department for the accommodation of BOTPs have been terminated since 2022.

The contract with each of our accommodation providers is for a defined period but also contains a provision for either party to terminate the contract with one month’s notice. A reason is not always disclosed when termination is initiated by the provider. In other cases, as part of the management of our portfolio of BOTP accommodation, the officials of my Department have terminated contacts in instances of serious breaches of compliance with our polices, or where the rates being requested by the providers did not provide value for money.

It should be noted that some accommodation providers own multiple properties and may have a separate contract with my Department for each. As such, while the provider may be subject to a contract termination they may continue to provide accommodation to BOTPs at other properties on separate contracts. There are also situations where a notice of termination has been served on a provider but the BOTPs continue to reside at the property in question until suitable arrangements are made for their relocation.

I do not have statistical information on these terminations in a manner to inform the Deputy’s question but I hope the information above is of assistance.

There are no instances where those providing accommodation to International Protection (IP) applicants are doing so following the termination of their contract for the same.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) carefully appraises each property that is offered for use as accommodation for International Protection (IP) applicants before contracts are issued, and properties are also subject to pre-occupancy inspections to ensure they are adhering to the requisite standards.

IPPS advises all potential providers of accommodation of the need to provide sufficient security to protect their property while the appraisal process is underway, and furthermore, to the requirement to maintain the safety and security of the IP applicants for which they will be providing accommodation once contracted.

The provision and management of numbers of security staff at IP accommodation centres is a matter for the centre management and service providers and is not dictated by the Department. However, the requirement to have adequate security forms part of the contract to accommodate IP applicants. The Department requires that centres are adequately staffed for the running of the centre and that there is a 24/7 staff presence. The particular security needs of each centre are assessed by each provider and agreed with the Department prior to the opening of the centre.

With respect to beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTP), the Department does not pay directly for security services at BOTP accommodation centres. The majority of Ukrainian BOTP accommodation centres do not have security in place. If security is deemed necessary at a centre, it is included in the rate paid to the facility provider, as part of the overall agreed service provision in the contract.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Contractual arrangements for the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation centres are deemed confidential and commercially sensitive. Therefore, it is not possible to provide the details of contracts currently held between the Department and providers for accommodation purposes.

In relation to service providers contracted by IPAS to provide accommodation services to International Protection (IP) applicants, the Department publishes reports on all payments over €20,000.These are published, once per quarter, on gov.ie

(www.gov.ie/en/collection/dfdadb-department-of-children-and-youth-affairs-purchase-orders-for-20000-o/#2022)

There are nearly 28,000 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole (of whom 6,356 are children) compared with nearly 20,000 people at this time last year. Together with Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection displaced by the war in Ukraine, this means that Ireland is now accommodating over 100,000 people in state-supported accommodation.

Department officials are working to bring more bed spaces into use. For context, at the end of January 2022 IPAS had 8,300 bed spaces in use; it now has approximately 28,000 beds in use. This does not account for further beds that had been provided to International Protection (IP) applicants in the interim in hotels that have since returned these beds to tourism.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of DCEDIY has a dedicated Training Unit that develops training sessions in line with general IPAS Policies and Procedures. To date, and since its development in 2023, 102 centres have received this training.

The IPAS Training Unit conducts overview sessions with new and existing accommodation providers both online and in person. The overview sessions include, but are not limited to:

• House Rules and Procedures
• Critical Incidents
• Suicide Awareness
• Child Protection and Welfare
• GDPR

These overview sessions allow providers to ask questions or seek advice from IPAS staff.

IPAS works in collaboration with other Government bodies, such as the HSE and Tusla, as well as NGOs and other approved service providers in the development of its training.

In addition to this training, accommodation centre staff are supported by a dedicated Centre Management and Compliance Team within IPAS. This team provides advice to accommodation centres on the implementation of IPAS policy and procedure, and also conduct unannounced site visits to ensure compliance with same.

IPAS is engaging with the management of the D Hotel on the provision of training to all staff and will be providing support required to ensure adherence to IPAS policy, procedure and relevant standards.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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In respect to consultation undertaken by the Department to accommodate International Protection (IP) applicants at the D Hotel, once an offer of accommodation is received by the International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS), the proposal and any supporting documentation is reviewed to assess the suitability of the premises that is offered for use as accommodation.

Before contracts are issued, observations are sought from the relevant local authority in terms of fire and planning requirements and properties are also subject to pre-occupancy inspections to ensure they are adhering to the requisite standards.

IPPS contacted Louth County Council regarding the use of the D Hotel on 31^st January in the usual way, with an email which sought their observations on the potential use of the property for the accommodation of international protection applicants. A response was received from the Local Authority by email on 7^th February.

There are nearly 28,000 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole (of whom 6,356 are children) compared with nearly 20,000 people at this time last year. Together with Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection displaced by the war in Ukraine, this means that Ireland is now accommodating over 100,000 people in state-supported accommodation.

Intensive efforts are being undertaken daily by staff in DCEDIY to source emergency accommodation. However, procuring enough bed space to keep pace with incoming arrivals remains extremely challenging, leading to the current accommodation shortage.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As part of the State’s humanitarian response to the Ukrainian crisis, the government has developed a rapid build housing programme to provide accommodation for families fleeing the war in Ukraine. The programme aims to provide short-term accommodation up to 2,800 Ukrainians at several sites across Ireland. While rapid build units will initially be used to temporarily house people fleeing Ukraine, they have the potential to be utilised to address other accommodation challenges, including social housing and student accommodation.

This project – the first of its kind – is an important one as it will provide a blueprint for future developments. As each phase has brought new challenges, these challenges will provide important future learnings.

The emphasis in this programme is on delivery of quality homes which will enhance local environments and this has been a priority.

Each site will have roads, footpaths, street lighting, community facilities, including green spaces, fully in line with Local Authority planning guidance. The homes will be highly energy efficient, durable units with a 60 year lifespan and the development of the sites will be conducted in an environmentally sustainable way to ensure that, post development, the site will enhance the local area. Construction disruption is limited as the units are manufactured off site.

Work has been completed on the first seven sites (Mahon Cork, Farnham Road Cavan, Doorly Park Sligo, Thurles Tipperary, Claremorris Mayo, Clonminch Offaly and Rathdowney Laois). Residents have moved into six of the sites with the seventh site being occupied this week. By the end of this week 310 homes with a capacity to house 1240 will have been delivered and occupied. The final stage of the programme will be delivered in 2024.

The completion timelines are subject to any technical issues arising during construction. There were a number of such issues that arose over the past few months relating to site conditions, remedial works, boundaries, ESB connections, etc. that delayed earlier forecasted dates of completion on sites included in the programme.

The cost of each unit is approximately €145,000 per unit, inclusive of supply, delivery and provision of loose electrical and household items. This is separate to the site development and utility connection costs, etc. relating to the overall development. As the project is still ongoing and further sites are under consideration, it is not possible to fully specify a final overall programme figure at this time.