Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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500. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current number of international protection and Ukrainian refugees currently being accommodated at a location (details supplied); whether any residents have been moved or are proposed to be moved to alternative accommodation, the reasons for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22430/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, my Department continues to work as park of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing the conflict who request it, in line with Government policy. To date, approximately 107,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTPs) have arrived in Ireland and over 84,000 of those have been referred to my Department seeking accommodation from the State.

The property to which the Deputy refers is in contract with my Department to provide emergency temporary accommodation for BOTPs. At present, there are 55 BOTPs residing in the property and there are no planned relocations to alternative accommodation for them. At this time, no International Protection applicants (IPs) reside at this location.

Over the coming months, my Department will be reviewing its entire accommodation portfolio and has commenced renewing contracts as they end for existing accommodation that meet my Department's accommodation portfolio requirements.

Upon the conclusion of the current contract with the location to which the Deputy refers, my officials will engage with the accommodation provider to consider the renewal of the contract for accommodation of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection at this location.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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501. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the position in relation to a property (details supplied); has the property been purchased; what the intended use for it is; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22443/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I thank the Deputy for this question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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In February 2021 A White Paper to End Direct Provision and establish a new International Protection Service was published. The paper set out a new approach for accommodating applicants that seek International Protection in Ireland and contains three core themes – accommodation, integration and supports. There is a legal obligation on the state to meet the requirements under the EU Recast Reception Conditions Directive to provide accommodation to all who request it.

In 2022 and 2023 Ireland experienced unprecedented numbers of new IP arrivals with over 26,900. To put this in context the total number of applications received in 2022 and 2023 (26,900) is greater than the total received over the preceding eight year period, 2013-2021 (23,369). These very significant arrival numbers have continued in the first months of 2024, with the highest number of applicants, over 7188, received from January to April according to IPO published statistics. This represents a 98% increase when compared to the corresponding period in 2023.

On the 27th March 2024 Government agreed a new Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy for International Protection applicants. The 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.

Accommodation in the new strategy will be delivered 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

As detailed in the strategy, accommodation will be delivered through a blended approach of purchasing, turnkey deliverable and delivery on State owned sites. The breakdown of dedicated state owned Reception and Integration and Accommodation Centres will be dependent on the opportunities that arise from the multi-strand approach.

Regarding the number, county location and cost of land purchases made by the Government in order to provide accommodation for asylum seekers, no land has been purchased to date for this purpose. However, 37 properties have been purchased to date. These properties are a mix of 2/3/4 bed apartments and houses and some larger properties (10 bed plus). The properties are located across 12 counties (Clare, Cork, Dublin, Kerry, Limerick, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford).

Additionally, an Expression of Interest (EOI) process has been launched by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for the sourcing of suitable properties for acquisition or lease as International Protection accommodation.

With regards to the Ukraine query, to date, approximately 107,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTPs) have arrived in Ireland and over 84,000 of those have been referred to this Department seeking accommodation from the State.

Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe was immensely challenging. Due to the urgent need to source accommodation, a broad range of accommodation types were contracted, hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs, hostels, self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings.

All accommodation contracted by this Department is temporary in nature, and BOTPs are advised of this when requesting emergency accommodation. My Department has not purchased any land to accommodate BOTPs since the start of the war.

Since 14 March 2024, under a revised policy, anyone fleeing the war in Ukraine, who registers for temporary protection and is looking for State-provided accommodation in Ireland, will be accommodated for a maximum of 90 days. They will be provided with food, laundry, other services and integration supports in Designated Accommodation Centres (DACs). When they leave the DAC, or if they make their own accommodation arrangements on arrival, they will be entitled to apply for standard social welfare assistance equivalent to Irish citizens subject to meeting the eligibility conditions.

Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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503. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the stage at which the assessment of a facility (details supplied) as a potential site for IPAS applicants is currently at; the engagement his Department has had with Tipperary County Council, the HSE, local representatives and service providers to ascertain adequacy of services in the area to cope with additional demand; if a process of public engagement is expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22503/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I thank the Deputy for this question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days.

The Deputy may wish to be aware that the Community Engagement Team has been established within my Department which stands ready to respond to queries of this nature, and they may be contacted directly at community@equality.gov.ie.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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504. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it is planned for international protection applicants to be accommodated at a site (details supplied); if so, the expected date of arrival for the applicants; the duration of their stay; if transportation will be available for the applicants considering the rural location; if children will be staying at the location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22528/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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A HSE review of the property was undertaken which determined that the site is surplus to the HSE’s requirements. In line with the HSE Property Protocol and DPER Circular 11/2015, the HSE offered this property to all State Stakeholders through the Intra-State Property Register.

The Department expressed an interest in the site in order to facilitate the provision of suitable accommodation to Persons Seeking International Protection.

The Department holds a caretaker agreement until the transfer of assets process is completed. The only activity on the site at the moment is a presence of security personnel. This is a necessary precaution to protect the site, following attacks at another site in Crooksling, which saw part of the buildings destroyed in a suspected arson attack.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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505. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of people currently being accommodated at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22529/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Since the outset of the war in Ukraine in early 2022, Ireland has provided accommodation to over 107,000 people between those fleeing Ukraine and International Protection applicants. This includes approximately 84,000 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) from Ukraine who required State supported accommodation since February 2022 and approximately 30,000 International Protection applicants currently in IPAS accommodation. Prior to the war in Ukraine, there were 8,300 applicants for international protection in State supported accommodation.

In relation to the property to which the Deputy refers, I have been advised that it has a contracted capacity for 180 persons and that this property is used to accommodate both BOTPs and IP applicants.

My Department does not comment on occupancy figures for individual properties given the requirement to maintain the security and right to privacy of residents, and the variability of this data due to the emergency nature of its requirement to provide shelter.

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 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 CET remains available for further engagement if required.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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506. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if more appropriate lines of communication be opened between IPAS and the local community of Kinnegad. [22530/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As at 12^th May, there over 30,000 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole (of whom 7,356 are children) compared with approximately 8,700 people at the end of February 2022.

These figures are combined with the arrival of over 100,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTPs) displaced by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the largest displacement of people in Europe since the Second World War. Over 75,000 BOTPs are in state-provided accommodation.

This is a nationwide urgent situation and centres have been opened in all parts of the country. Since January 2022, the Department has brought over 200 properties into use to accommodate those who arrive in Ireland seeking international protection. All of the limited accommodation capacity within the IPAS system is currently being used. While demand continues to outstrip supply, the Department on behalf of the Government, is doing all it can to ensure that families and children have been accommodated.

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 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. The team does not have a role in the procurement of premises or the allocation of new arrivals.