Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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1455.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an organisation has been tendered to provide a vulnerability assessment to international protection applicants, in line with the State’s obligations under the Reception Conditions Regulations; when the assessments will resume; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[34964/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The significant increase in numbers of arrivals and constraints on available accommodation across the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) portfolio has placed extreme pressure on IPAS resources, including the Vulnerability Assessment Programme. As a result, a decision was made to suspend the programme and to seek to procure an external contractor to manage it.

Following the suspension, resources were redirected to support operations across the Resident Welfare Team and IPAS overall, including to conduct triage of newly arrived single male applicants and identify those with very high needs requiring priority for accommodation when available.

A successful tender process for the provision of this service has now concluded, contracts are currently being signed with the provider and it is expected that the new Vulnerability Assessment Programme will recommence in early course. Support remains available for International Protection (IP) applicants in IPAS accommodation centres through a number of channels, including the IPAS website at .

www.gov.ie/en/publication/58397-resident-welfare/#suspension-of-the-vulnerability-assessment-pilot-programme