Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1923.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an assurance can be provided that every person has an offer of safe accommodation, in light of the increasing number of attacks on homeless asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33212/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

An Garda Síochána (AGS) is responsible for operational policing matters, and where criminal acts may have occurred, the Department is precluded from commenting or providing detailed information, as it may prejudice any consequent investigations or court cases.

The Department of Integration continues to work with relevant state agencies to support people who have applied for international protection but haven’t been accommodated. International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) has arranged for outreach and visits to applicants 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.

This has arisen over recent months against a backdrop of unprecedented demand for accommodation. 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.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1924.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of asylum seekers currently without accommodation, broken down by age and gender. [33213/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Department of Integration does not collate the information in the manner requested for publication. However, weekly and monthly statistics are released that are available publicly on the gov.ie at the link below:

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

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 IP applicants at this time.

The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) arranges for outreach and visits to people who have applied for international protection 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.