Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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241. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth following the publication of the brief on Ireland's National Implementation Plan for the EU Migration and Asylum Pact, when the public tender will be issued for the operation and management of new state-run reception centres under the reformed international protection process; the expected timelines for awarding those contracts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16052/25]

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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242. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth following the publication of the brief on Ireland's National Implementation Plan for the EU Migration and Asylum Pact, if her Department will publish the criteria used to evaluate bids for the management of reception centres, including standards for human rights compliance, transparency, and experience in providing trauma-informed care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16053/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 241 and 242 together.

I thank the Deputy for his questions.

A cross-departmental Programme Board is overseeing the national implementation plan for the EU Asylum and Migration Pact. This group will be working through the many elements of the national implementation plan and the State’s approach to meeting the requirements set out in the Migration Pact, which comes into effect from June 2026.

As regards the development or procurement of international protection accommodation centres or management of these as they relate to Pact implementation, these matters remain under consideration by my officials and officials in the Department of Justice.

It should be noted, however, that it is likely that existing IPAS facilities will continue to be used as accommodation centres under the new processes developed for the implementation in June 2026. In addition, while the Pact brings new requirements in the overall process for IP and for accommodation processes, existing standards for service provision and processes for sourcing, development or procurement will form part of future work.

In relation to developing State-owned accommodation centres:

Over the last year this Department has been focused on progressing the Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy (CAS), which was announced in March 2024. Accommodation is being sourced and developed on an ongoing basis through a range of teams and a multi-strand approach that includes:

• Targeted purchase of medium and larger turnkey properties
• Use of State land for prefabricated and modular units
• Conversion of commercial buildings
• Design and build of new Reception and Integration Centres
• Upgrading of existing IPAS centres
• Supplemented by commercial providers, but phasing these out as more State services come onstream

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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245. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth following the publication of the brief on Ireland's National Implementation Plan for the EU Migration and Asylum Pact, if, in light of recent reports that the Government has shelved plans for emergency accommodation centres in areas where arson attacks or threats have occurred, she will clarify the criteria now being used to determine the suitability of locations for international protection accommodation and the new State reception centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16056/25]

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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246. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if her Department is concerned that withdrawing from certain areas in response to intimidation risks setting a precedent where illegal activity can influence or veto State policy on the placement of accommodation for international protection applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16057/25]

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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249. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth following the publication of the brief on Ireland’s National Implementation Plan for the EU Migration and Asylum Pact, the measures in place to ensure that private operators or NGOs running reception centres are not incentivised to quietly withdraw from contentious locations, thereby undermining the State’s legal obligations and community integration efforts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16115/25]

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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250. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if her Department has assessed the long-term impact of recent media reports that the Government has reversed the decisions to locate emergency accommodation in areas that have been subject to intimidation, local protest and/or arson on the integrity of Ireland’s international protection system; the assurances that can be given that future site selections will not be influenced by such intimidation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16117/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 245, 246, 249 and 250 together.

There has been significant pressure on the State to source suitable international protection accommodation for people entitled to it under EU and Irish law. This is particularly the case since 2022, when a sharp increase in applications in Ireland commenced.

While there has been a backdrop of local concern in relation to some IPAS centres, including some legal challenges, and in some rare cases, criminal and violent incidents, these have been worked through with local communities and leaders, and the support of a wide range of State agencies.

There are many examples of sites around the country where despite incidents of protest initially being in place, centres have opened and are operating successfully. It is not the policy of this Department to avoid opening a centre due to local protect or unrest, rather our approach is to engage and work with local groups to overcome concerns, with the support of other partners and State agencies as needed.

During the period, a number of Government and policy decisions were taken that impacted some potential IPAS centres. These decisions were taken in response to the increasing need for accommodation and housing across society, the change in the tourism sector during and after the pandemic, and urban development priorities.

To ensure local amenities be preserved in a community, it was decided that IPAS would not contract the last publicly operating hotel in a given town or village. This also means that as need for Ukraine accommodation has reduced, many properties previously used to support people fleeing the war in Ukraine have returned to tourism or private use.

It was also decided to preclude locations that were providing student accommodation in the previous 12 months from being developed for IPAS accommodation.

Additionally, IPAS carries out an appraisal when considering offers of accommodation made to us. A range of issues are considered by that appraisal which may lead to a refusal. These might include ineligibility for planning exemptions or other building and fire regulations managed by the Local Authority. They might also include concerns about services, transport and other logistical issues.

There continues to be a balance between considering all reasonable offers to prevent or minimise homelessness, and ensuring wider regulatory and policy concerns are considered.

The International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) advises all potential providers of accommodation of the need to provide sufficient security to protect their property while the appraisal process is underway, and furthermore, to the requirement to maintain the safety and security of the international protection applicants for which they will be providing accommodation once contracted.