John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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1768.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware that nine tents were pitched in the bushes on the corner of the Saggart Luas stop; the steps his Department has taken to relocate the occupiers of the tents to alternative, more suitable locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31438/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Department of Integration continues to work with relevant state agencies to support people who have applied for international protection and for whom no accommodation was available. International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) has arranged for outreach to applicants known to be rough sleeping. This has allowed us to offer accommodation as it becomes available. Outreach is ongoing a regular basis, several times a week.

Shortages of accommodation have arisen over recent months against a backdrop of increasing applications for international protection. While the Department is making every effort to accommodate asylum seekers, approximately 2,300 people who applied for IP since December 2023 have not been offered accommodation.

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.

Drop-in day services remain available to all persons not offered accommodation by the Department, as well as other persons found to be street homeless, who wish to avail of them. In these services, people seeking IP can access facilities including hot showers, meals and laundry services seven days a week at these service locations.

The Department has regular engagement with the HSE National Social Inclusion office regarding the needs of people seeking IP. The Department has grant agreements in place with four homeless services in the Dublin city centre region to support increased demand on their services. The services provide meals, places to charge phones and hygiene facilities. The charity SafetyNet also provide health services to IP applicants without accommodation, and the Department is in regular contact with SafetyNet.

Efforts are ongoing in all areas of the country to source and bring on-stream accommodation for people seeking IP. This includes, as part of the new Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy, a focus on larger sites on State-owned land with prefabricated and modular units, conversion of commercial buildings, and targeted purchasing of turnkey properties.