Written answers

Thursday, 24 October 2024

Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

International Protection

Photo of Cathal CroweCathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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29. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide details of the policy his Department uses to determine if accommodation contracts relating to beneficiaries of temporary protection and international protection applicants should be renewed or not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43328/24]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection

In relation to contracts for temporary emergency accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs), my Department aims to ensure that our portfolio of accommodation meets the evolving needs of the State’s response to the Ukraine Crisis.

In recent months we have seen decreases in arrivals from Ukraine to Ireland, decreases in those arriving who request accommodation from the State and greater numbers of Ukrainians who choose to move on from State accommodation. As a result, my Department is currently seeking to consolidate and rationalise its accommodation portfolio for BOTPs to ensure greater compliance with standards and better value for money.

Generally speaking, my Department’s renewal strategy has been to renew contracts with accommodation providers where they and their properties are compliant with all requirements, such as fire safety, requisite insurance, sufficient size allocation per person etc. However, other factors also considered as part of the strategy relate to the rates sought by providers, the level of vacancies in the area concerned (which allows for consolidation with minimum disruption), the type of accommodation (self-catering properties are prioritised over full-board to assist with independent living) and the pressure within the respective sector (e.g. tourism and student accommodation).

In terms of non-compliance, my Department has decided to prioritise ending these contracts as part of the consolidation. Compliance issues include but are not limited to:

  • The health, safety and well-being of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection in state-supported emergency accommodation.
  • Overcharging by providers for the provision of their accommodation.
  • Unregulated secondary properties that were being utilised by providers.
  • Private and residential properties that were being utilised and retained by the Department when further commercial properties were available.
My Department is currently renewing contracts with the compliant providers and, as of 17 October 2024, over 330 contracts have been renewed.

As part of the renewal process, my Department is requesting a fully completed Fire Safety Assessment for each property to be provided within 12 weeks, carried out in accordance with the Code of Practice for Fire Safety Assessment of Premises and Buildings (version March 2022).

Any property for which no Fire Safety Assessment is supplied within the 12 week timeframe, or where the assessment flags issues with regard to fire safety, is subject to termination of contract.

International Protection applicants

In relation to International Protection applicants, my Department has a dedicated team within the International Protection Division responsible for renewing contractual agreements for the IPAS accommodation portfolio. The objective is to secure the required bed capacity within the current accommodation portfolio, while also ensuring quality and value for money.

As per the Public Spending Code, the best possible value-for-money is sought when undertaking negotiations and there are several control measures in place to manage expenditure. In the event that my Department and an accommodation provider cannot reach an agreement, the contract is not renewed.

During the renewal process, accommodation providers are requested to provide proof of legal ownership of the premises (or a copy of the lease agreement in place), a multi-occupancy residential insurance policy and a valid Fire Safety Certificate. Contract renewals are subject to this documentation being provided and verified.

Accommodation providers are also requested to confirm that since last entering into contractual agreement with my Department that the accommodation centre remains compliant with all relevant statutory requirements, and the provider has not received any planning enforcement notices or warning letters.

All accommodation centres are subject to inspection by my officials or contracted representatives of my Department, and IPAS Resident Clinics are an additional opportunity to review and examine centres and their general operation. The findings from inspections and resident clinics are also taken into consideration during the contract renewal process.

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