Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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620. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review a series of issues in relation to a new IPAS centre (details supplied). [36638/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department is working with communities all over Ireland to source and provide accommodation for people applying for international protection. This is part of Irish and EU law, and is also part of our humanitarian duty to provide shelter to people fleeing war and persecution in their home country.

My Department’s Community Engagement Team (CET) liaises directly with elected representatives, relevant Local Authorities, Local Development Companies, and other entities and individuals. The CET informs all relevant state support services of the opening of accommodation centres for people seeking IP, who then prepare any additional supports needed to assist residents to settle into the local community.

The CET provided a briefing document on this centre to local public representatives on September 3rd, and has been in touch with local representatives and groups with information about the specific site and locality. We have also informed local authority, health and integration support services of the new centre to allow them to provide supports that may be needed. The site is now in use by IPAS.

The accommodation at this centre is for families of people applying for international protection. All statutory requirements relating to the establishment and management of emergency accommodation are being met by the service provider, including health and safety, fire, building regulations and other requirements.

Once an offer is received with respect to accommodation for international protection (IP) applicants, it is assessed for suitability. This includes a range of factors such as accommodation suitability, rates, room sizes, capacity and amenities, information on the building's safety and fitness for occupancy, and various other criteria such as Wi-Fi, security provision and staffing.

The Department is conscious of the need to ensure quality in all accommodation contracted, while also providing shelter and safety urgently to those who need it.

The Government has increased the International Protection Accommodation Service's (IPAS) capacity by more than 400% since 2020, from just under 7,000 people on 31 December 2020. Currently, there are over 32,000 people accommodated in the IPAS system as a whole.

The Government's Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy (CAS) for people seeking IP aims to address the current serious shortfall in accommodation for people seeking IP and to build a more sustainable system for the longer term.

Accommodation in the new strategy is being 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. This will be supplemented, as required, by high standard commercial providers as needed.