Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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1393. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason a hotel (details supplied), as an IPAS accommodation centre, is not currently subject to HIQA inspection; if there are plans to bring this facility under the inspection regime of HIQA; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11728/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is currently accommodating over 33,000 people in international protection accommodation, in over 320 centres all over Ireland.

The D Hotel was offered to the International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) and contracted in early 2024 to provide accommodation to people seeking international protection.

The European Communities (Reception Conditions) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 commenced on 9th January 2024 and provide for the Health Information and Quality Authority to conduct inspections of certain accommodation centres contracted by the Department.

HIQA inspects specific IPAS centres contracted by the Department and identified by HIQA. In 2024, they inspected 51 accommodation centres, and you can read a summary of their work and findings here, along with access to all relevant inspection reports.

www.hiqa.ie/areas-we-work/international-protection-accommodation-services

Emergency IPAS Accommodation Centres are subject to separate inspection arrangements. For these centres, the Department has put in place an inspection process whereby it carries out unannounced compliance visits to check adherence to established IPAS policies, procedures and standards by service providers contracted to run centres. My Department carried out 300 inspections on all modes of property in 2024.

Details of IPAS Inspection Reports are published by the Department and can be found at:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/534c2-ipas-inspection-reports/

Resident Welfare clinics also provide IPAS officials with an opportunity to review and examine centres and their general operation and pass any findings on for follow up through the formal inspection process.

The D Hotel was contracted under the emergency appraisal process and while it has not yet been inspected as yet, it is scheduled for inspection shortly.