Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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316. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a detailed account of the efforts made to assess the ability of the Dundrum, County Tipperary area to provide the services needed to cater for additional demand with respect to the accommodation to be provided at a location (details supplied); the level of community engagement that has taken place locally in anticipation of his Department’s plans, with specific reference to engagement with health services, local GPs and other service providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30647/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department is currently providing accommodation to approximately 43,000 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) fleeing the war in Ukraine and almost 31,400 International Protection (IP) applicants from a variety of countries.

The accommodation to which the Deputy refers was contracted to provide accommodation to BOTPs. There are currently 80 vacant contracted beds at this property. The International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) intends to use these vacancies in this accommodation to accommodate IP applicants. My Department does not plan to increase the current contracted capacity for this location.

The Department continues to work intensively to source beds for IPs. More than 6,000 have been brought on since the beginning of the year. 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 230 properties into use to accommodate those who arrive in Ireland seeking international protection.

My Department’s Community Engagement Team liaises directly with elected representatives, relevant Local Authorities, Local Development Companies, and other entities and individuals.

The provision of accommodation, health, education, income and other supports, as appropriate, to both those arriving from Ukraine and International Protection applicants is an ongoing focus of the work of all of Government. The ongoing whole-of-government response involves a range of Departments and agencies, as well as local government. Additional resources and new processes and structures to integrate expertise and efforts are in place. These are being deployed to address the issues arising in what is an extremely challenging situation.