Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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1765.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are plans to provide accommodation for asylum seekers in order that they are not forced to sleep outside, for example, at the canal in Dublin city centre and in Citywest. [31397/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Government is working intensively to source additional accommodation for those most in need, including those who are found to be rough sleeping.

The Department is making every effort to accommodate asylum seekers against a backdrop of unprecedented demand. However, the situation remains challenging, and the Department cannot provide accommodation to all people seeking international protection (IP) at this time.

The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) arranges for outreach and visits to people who have applied for IP and are known to be rough sleeping. This has allowed us to offer accommodation places as they become available, and many people have taken up these offers over recent weeks. Outreach is ongoing a regular basis, several times a week.

A triage process is in place for those who are vulnerable, and an enhanced expense allowance is available to those who have not been provided with accommodation. There are also drop-in services where people seeking international protection can access facilities including hot showers, meals and laundry services seven days a week.

Efforts are ongoing in all areas of the country to source and find suitable accommodation for people seeking IP.

The Government has agreed a new Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy (CAS) for IP applicants. This aims to address the current serious shortfall in accommodation for people seeking international protection and to build a more sustainable system for the longer term. Accommodation in the new strategy will be delivered through the use of State land for prefabricated and modular units, conversion of commercial buildings, and targeted purchasing of turnkey properties. It will also involve design and build of new Reception and Integration Centres and upgrading of IPAS Centres.

The CAS will see a move away from full reliance on private providers and towards a core of State-owned accommodation, delivering 14,000 State-owned beds by 2028 – quadruple the previous commitment under the White Paper. This will be supplemented, as required, by high standard commercial providers.