Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein)
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288. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if private owners of B&Bs require permission from his Department, or from local authorities, to provide emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43658/24]

Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein)
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289. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated time for permission to be granted/refused to private owners of B&Bs applying to provide emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43659/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 288 and 289 together.

Initial contact of offers of properties to be used for accommodation for people seeking International Protection (IP) are received by the International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) primarily through its e-mail portal.

Once an offer is received, IPPS sends a proposal template to the prospective provider that they are required to complete and return. The proposal template seeks to gather as much information as is reasonably practicable to facilitate an objective assessment of the suitability of the premises to accommodate IP applicants. This includes but is not limited to information on the building's safety and fitness for occupancy, its catering provision and room sizes, its recreational and lounge facilities 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.

With all new properties contracted by the Department to provide accommodation for IP applicants, the Local Authority have a role in verifying that properties meet the required building, planning and fire safety regulations. IPPS seek written evidence of any engagement by the provider with the local authority on the viability of the property for use as accommodation for IP applicants. If a provider intends to utilise a planning exemption to do this, they are obliged to inform the local authority, and the department confirms its interest in using a property, subject to contract/contract denied.

Once all documentation is received, the Department continues to engage with the appropriate fire certification authorities to ensure fire certification is up to date. Once evidence of certification is received from the relevant authorities by the provider, and provided to the Department, a contract may be signed for the use of the property.

The timeframe for the completion of this process can vary depending on the particularities of each individual property, the availability of relevant documentation, and the approval of valid certification by the regulatory body.