Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

984. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth her plans to ensure that international protection applicants who avail of temporary accommodation as part of cold weather initiatives are not expected to sleep rough once the cold weather passes to prove and demonstrate their need for accommodation before being referred to alternative emergency accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2940/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

During the lead in to the red weather warnings during January, the Department activated our extreme weather response plan to enhance safety measures for people seeking international protection.

The Department’s extreme weather response plan focuses on international protection (IP) applicants who are in our tented accommodation sites, and applicants who are unaccommodated. Measures that operate during period of severe weather include providing extra bedding, ensuring that heating in our robust, weather proof tents is operating properly. At some tented sites, options to move to indoor accommodation are also made and taken up by residents.

Ongoing outreach continues during and following the extreme weather plan. This outreach ensures that international protection applicants who are found rough-sleeping receive an offer accommodation. Our teams keep the needs of applicants and residents under ongoing review during these periods.

Since December 2023, the Department has not had sufficient capacity available to accommodate all people seeking international protection.

Drop-in day services are provided for unaccommodated people who wish to avail of them. In such centres, people seeking IP can access facilities including hot showers, meals and laundry services seven days a week. The Department has arrangements in place for the provision of these services with a range of NGO partners.

Unaccommodated people seeking IP are provided with a weekly allowance of €113.80 per week, an increase of €75 from the standard weekly allowance.

Our teams continue to manage the very limited accommodation available, prioritising people who are assessed as vulnerable or with specific needs.

The Department also continues to develop and source accommodation for people applying for international protection in locations all over the country, as part of implementing the Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy for international protection.

The Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy aims to address the current serious shortfall in accommodation for people seeking international protection and to build a more sustainable system for the longer term.

Intensive efforts are underway to source and bring into use suitable accommodation facilities, and to move over time toward a greater provision of State-owned beds, in line with the strategy.

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 is supplemented, as required, by high standard commercial providers on an ongoing basis.