Written answers
Tuesday, 9 July 2024
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
International Protection
Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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636. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the specific concerns raised following a site visit by the Ukraine compliance team to a site (details supplied) at which accommodation has ceased to be provided to beneficiaries of temporary protection by IPAS. [29852/24]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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In recent weeks we have seen decreases in arrivals from Ukraine to Ireland who are requesting accommodation from the state and we are now seeing greater numbers of Ukrainians who choose to move on from state accommodation. As a result, my Department is currently consolidating its accommodation portfolio to ensure value for money and greater oversight.
My Department is prioritising ending contracts with non-compliant providers as part of this consolidation. While I cannot go into detail on specific compliance cases, as there may be legal implications in some situations, compliance issues include but are not limited to:
- The health, safety and wellbeing of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection in state-supported emergency accommodation.
- Overcharging by providers for the provision of their accommodation.
- Unregulated secondary properties that were being utilised by providers.
- Private and residential properties that were being utilised and retained by the Department when further commercial properties were available.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank accommodation providers for their contribution to Ireland’s response to this humanitarian crisis. Commercial accommodation providers contracted to my Department have played a valuable part in supporting this response.
Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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637. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the specific compliance issues identified at a site (details supplied) at which accommodation is to cease to be provided to beneficiaries of temporary protection by IPAS. [29853/24]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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In recent weeks we have seen decreases in arrivals from Ukraine to Ireland who are requesting accommodation from the state and we are now seeing greater numbers of Ukrainians who choose to move on from state accommodation. As a result, my Department is currently consolidating its accommodation portfolio to ensure value for money and greater oversight.
My Department is prioritising ending contracts with non-compliant providers as part of this consolidation. While I cannot go into detail on specific compliance cases, as there may be legal implications in some situations, compliance issues include but are not limited to:
- The health, safety and wellbeing of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection in state-supported emergency accommodation.
- Overcharging by providers for the provision of their accommodation.
- Unregulated secondary properties that were being utilised by providers.
- Private and residential properties that were being utilised and retained by the Department when further commercial properties were available.
Every effort will be made to keep BOTPs as local as possible, however, given the number of moves that will take place over the next few months, this is not always possible. Due to the scale involved, the only factors that can be considered when allocating follow-on accommodation are HSE assessed medical needs. All accommodation provided by my Department is temporary, and BOTPs are informed of this when they request accommodation from the State.
Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection are entitled to make their own private arrangements including potentially availing of pledged accommodation if they wish, and can avail of some supports to do so. Those wishing to avail of pledged accommodation in any given area should contact the Local Authority in that area or the Irish Red Cross pledge process. The Irish Red Cross can be contacted by email at registerofpledges@redcross.ie or by phoning 1800 50 70 70.
BOTPS may also explore private rented accommodation either through their own means or with the assistance of Rent Supplement, if eligible. Rent Supplement is a means-tested payment administered by the Department of Social Protection to help meet the cost of private rented accommodation. Their local Department of Social Protection office may be able to provide further information relating to Rent Supplement. Contact details for the local offices can be found on .
I would like to take this opportunity to thank accommodation providers for their contribution to Ireland’s response to this humanitarian crisis. Commercial accommodation providers contracted to my Department have played a valuable part in supporting this response.
Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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638. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of sites at which accommodation is provided to beneficiaries of temporary protection or applicants for international protection by IPAS that have received a site visit by the Ukraine compliance team, QTS, or any other independent inspection company hired by IPAS or his Department in the first six months of 2024; and of those, at how many were compliance issues identified. [29854/24]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My officials are collating the information sought by the Deputy and will respond in due course.
Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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639. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of sites at which accommodation is provided to beneficiaries of temporary protection or applicants for international protection by IPAS that have received a site visit by the Ukraine compliance team, QTS, or any other independent inspection company hired by IPAS or his Department in the first six months of 2024; and of those how, at how many were compliance issues of a financial nature identified, including, but not limited to, suspected over-payments or suspected over claims for payment. [29855/24]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My officials are collating the information sought by the Deputy and will respond in due course.
Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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640. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide the sum of money suspected to have been overpaid by IPAS at accommodation centres for beneficiaries of temporary protection or applicants for international protection which received a site visit by the Ukraine compliance team, QTS, or any other independent inspection company hired by IPAS or his Department in the first six months of 2024. [29856/24]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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It is not possible to provide or estimate the sum of money sought by the Deputy in relation to suspected overpayment in the first six months of 2024 for accommodation providers for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) due to ongoing investigations. In relation to accommodation providers for International Protection (IPs) applicants, IPAS have not identified any cases of overpayments made to accommodation providers through site inspections in the first six months of 2024.
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