Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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17. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what assessment was carried out regarding the suitability of Lissywollen international protection centre for an additional 1,000 persons. [43581/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The proposed development of the site at Lissywollen, Athlone for the accommodation of International Protection Applicants is an urgent and important project, part of an overall Government strategy to provide accommodation for people applying for international protection.

We are working to engage with local groups and representatives about this development, with a view to keeping people informed and answering any questions they may have about the development.

A Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy (CAS) agreed by Government on 27 March 2024 provides for key measures that will enable the delivery of additional bed spaces in the next number of months, to bridge the gap between the immediate crisis and longer-term reform.

It provides for key measures that will enable the delivery of additional bed spaces in the next number of months, to bridge the gap between the immediate crisis and longer-term reform. The CAS signals a move away from full reliance on commercial providers and towards a core of State-owned accommodation, delivering 14,000 State-owned beds by 2028.

The site at Lissywollen, Athlone is intended to be one of the accommodation centres under this Government-approved accommodation strategy. My officials have worked with the OPW, local State services to plan for the development and the current engagement, and are working with an experienced accommodation provider to develop an effective service.

To date, our Community Engagement Team (CET) has issued a briefing note to local elected representatives, convened meetings including at Leinster House for local Oireachtas members, at Athlone with representatives from Athlone Moate Municipal District, and they also met the Principal and Board of Management Chair of the local national school. The CET is now working to convene a meeting of community stakeholders, with the support of the Local Development Company, as soon as possible.

All relevant State support services in the area have been informed of the accommodation centre so that they can prepare what additional supports will be needed to assist these people settle into the local community. This includes the Departments of Health, Education, Justice, Transport, HSE, An Garda Síochána, the Local Government Management Agency, the local integration teams and local development office.

In the context of the crisis faced by the State in accommodating IP arrivals, and having regard to the location of the site at Athlone, my Department would like to ensure every effort is made to allay local concerns and will continue to do so over the coming weeks.