Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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437. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when his Department expects to have assessed the submissions received under the expression of interest for acquisition or lease of international protection accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28975/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department launched an Expression of Interest (EOI) process on the 30 April 2024 for the sourcing of suitable properties as International Protection Accommodation. The EOI seeks to identify properties for acquisition/lease 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.

Stage One is being evaluated at present and those deemed as meeting the EOI essential criteria will be progressed to Stage Two where a full comprehensive evaluation based on a weighted criteria and due diligence will be performed. The number of submissions that reach the qualifying criteria for Stage One will determine the timeline for completion of the Stage Two process. Properties for immediate purchase are being prioritised.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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438. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the average duration spent in IPAS accommodation by persons denied protection status post-decision for applications in which a final decision was made from January 2023. [28976/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department releases weekly and monthly statistics that are available publicly on the gov.ie at the links below:

gov.ie - IPAS Statistics (www.gov.ie)

www.gov.ie/en/publication/07027-ipas-statistics/

There are currently 31,000 international protection applicants residing in IPAS accommodation. 5,595 people with status were in IPAS accommodation at the end of May 2024.Further statistics on those who reside in IPAS accommodation who have not been successful in their application are not collated by DCEDIY for publication.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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439. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how the implementation of the EU Migration Pact, particularly in respect of the Recast Reception Conditions Directive and Procedures Regulation, will affect the State's obligations as regards the provision of accommodation for international protection applicants. [28980/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The implementation of the new EU Migration Pact will result in broadly similar obligations in the area of accommodation provision. The introduction of reforms in other areas of the Pact, such as the proposed border procedure, may result in shorter processing times with a consequent reduction in the duration of accommodation provision. My Department is working with colleagues in the Department of Justice to progress a number of workstreams on Pact implementation.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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440. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the occupancy of IPAS accommodation at the end of each month from January 2023 to June 2024; and if these figures are inclusive of those with status currently being accommodated in IPAS. [28981/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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There are currently over 31,000 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole (of whom over 7,876 are children) compared with approximately 8,700 people at the end of February 2022.

*As at 23 June 2024.

Weekly and Monthly statistics are available publicly on the gov.ie at the links below:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/07027-ipas-statistics/

The published figures are inclusive of those with status who are currently residing in IPAS accommodation.