Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The data requested by the Deputy is not available.

In relation to service providers contracted by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) to provide accommodation and related 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/)

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Department of Integration appraises properties for temporary emergency accommodation based on the criteria outlined in the current International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) proposal form. The proposals criteria are drawn from various sources such as the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) National Standards , the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage Guidelines for New Emergency Accommodation (Sep 22), and the DCEDIY guidelines on accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection(BOTPS) of Ukraine.

Once an offer of accommodation is received, IPPS sends the proposal form to the prospective provider to complete and return. The proposal template seeks to gather as much information as is reasonably practicable to facilitate an objective assessment of the suitability of the premises to accommodate International Protection (IP) applicants. This includes information on the building's safety and fitness for occupancy, its catering provision and room sizes, its recreational and lounge facilities and various other criteria such as wi-fi, security provision and staffing. The location, layout and configuration of the bedrooms will help determine if the property is suitable for families, couples or single gender use. When assessing accommodation, there is a minimum bed space requirement of 4.65m2 per person. Additionally, the ceiling height should be 2.4m high. The maximum no of beds per room and per property can then be established from this.

There is a requirement for at least 1 toilet for every 8 spaces, hand wash basins with 24 hour hot and cold water supply at a ratio of 1 per 6 bed spaces, and showers available with 24 hour hot and cold water supply at a ratio of 1 per 12 bed spaced. Properties must also ensure that there is a toilet, wash hand basin and Shower provided for persons with severe mobility impairment (and considered in the context of similar bedroom provision).

In the proposal form, prospective providers are invited to provide proposed rate per person for this operation that factors in all services provided such as security, laundry, food provision, staffing, cleaning etc. Properties will be assessed based on their location, building type, the level of capital required to bring the property to Department standards of accommodation and the level of service being provided at the proposed centre. The rate will then be negotiated on and agreed with the provider. Contract duration is typically for a year, although there have been a number of contracts with longer durations, and this is decided on a case by case basis. Criteria are amended periodically as required.

All offers are subject to full compliance with requisite statutory legal regulatory requirements being in place.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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On the 27th March 2024 Government agreed a new Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy (CAS) for the accommodation of International Protection applicants. This strategy seeks to address the current accommodation shortfall, while reforming the system over the longer term to ensure the State will always be able to meet its international commitments.

The strategy focuses on the delivery of large Reception and Integration and Accommodation Centres through the following multi-strand approach:1. Use of State land for prefabricated and modular units;2. Conversion of commercial buildings;3. Targeted purchase of medium and larger turnkey properties;4. Design and build of new Reception and Integration Centres;5. Upgrading of IPAS Centres.

The multi-strand approach focuses on both increasing State owned permanent capacity, and the upgrading of additional contingency accommodation, developed to specific national standards, to build an effective system to meet the new realities of increasing need while enabling the State to discharge its duty to meet the material reception conditions of IP Applicants, according to the guiding principles of the White Paper.

Progress made on the strategy has included the launch of an Expression of Interest (EOI) process on e-tenders on the 30th April for the sourcing of suitable properties as IP accommodation. The EOI seeks to identify properties for acquisition under the following criteria:

• 150+ beds;
• Bedrooms in line with National Standards;
• existing properties/buildings in turnkey condition;
• existing properties that require upgrading/refurbishment/renovation.

The table below describes the property criteria and specific considerations as detailed in the EOI.

Property Type	Compliance with	Location	Property Requirements (Mandatory	Property Requirements (Desirable)
i. Turnkey properties for immediate use ii. Properties that require upgrade/renovationiii. Planned building but not built	i. Full Planning Permission ii. Building Regulationsiii. Fire Safety Regulations iv. National Standards	i. Populated area or easy access to nearest populated area via Public transport ii. Easy access to shops, GP’s either by foot or Public transport	i. 150+ bed spaces ii. Bedrooms in line with National Standardsiii. Percentage accessible for people with disabilities	i. Independent Living/Self Cateringii. Space for shop if external shops are inaccessible iii. Space for ancillary services (Medical, Education etciv. Office Space v. Space for indoor common recreational areas vi. Outdoor space in proximity viii. Space for Buses or delivery trucks to manoeuvre