Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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104. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth her views on the signing of a contract for IPAS accommodation at a hotel (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20502/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Thank you, Deputy, for your question.

As you will be aware, my Department has been working with communities all over Ireland to source and provide accommodation for people applying for international protection, and emergency centres have been opened in all parts of the country.

This is part of Irish and EU law and is also part of our humanitarian duty to provide shelter to people fleeing war and persecution in their home country.

The State is currently accommodating over 33,000 people in over 320 international protection accommodation centres around the country.

Following the coming Transfer of Functions on 1 May 2025, this work will be continued by the Department of Justice, Home Affairs, and Migration.

Background

The accommodation centre at Dundrum House Hotel, Co Tipperary, has been providing accommodation under contract to my Department since 2022, with a capacity of over 270 people fleeing the war in Ukraine.

Since the numbers of Ukraine residents reduced over the last year or more, the property has also been accommodating just over 50 international protection applicants for the past nine months.

Dundrum House Hotel ceased operation as a hotel a decade ago, in 2015. There is a golf course, wider grounds and a hospitality business on the site which have remained open the public and the community since that time, and remain open today while part of the site operates as an accommodation centre.

A new contract has commenced at this property, and the centre will provide accommodation to up to 277 people in families seeking international protection in Ireland.

This capacity figure includes a number of people who are beneficiaries of temporary protection due to the war in Ukraine and who were already being accommodated at the property, and is not therefore an increase in the overall capacity at this centre since 2022.

My Department's Community Engagement Team (CET) has engaged extensively with the local community about this property since May 2024, including meetings, personal contacts and ongoing correspondence, including discussion of the potential accommodation of international protection applicants at the centre.

On 15 April 2025 after many months of engagement, the CET sent a formal briefing note including detailed information on the property and type of accommodation to be provided, directly to elected representatives, the Local Authority and other relevant groups.

The briefing note issued provided information to all recipients about the name of the accommodation provider and the type and nature of accommodation to be provided, along with details about the services to be in place for residents.

Appraisal process and provider

In terms of the provider themselves, in meeting our obligation to provide material reception conditions to people seeking international protection, the Department can consider offers of accommodation from a tax-compliant company, subject to compliance with statutory requirements and minimum standards.

Offers of accommodation can be made by a property owner, or another person who has authority do so, such as a leaseholder. As part of our detailed accommodation appraisal process, we confirm if an offer has come from someone with the appropriate authority.

My Department carries out due diligence on accommodation being contracted including checks via the Companies Registration Office (CRO) to ensure compliance with CRO requirements and tax compliance checks by way of a valid Tax Clearance Certificate.

In line with routine EU trade arrangements, it is in order, and can be the case that a company or company director from another EU Member State operates contracts within Ireland or works with an Irish business to do so.

In terms of the contract in this case, the registered company named on the contract is a newly established entity that fully met the requirements set out by the Department.

The company is part of a wider commercial group that has experience in working with this Department to provide international protection accommodation.

Evaluation of properties is carried out independently by the Department. I was informed the contract had been signed and all checks had been passed

Planning matters

In all instances where the Department enters into a contract with an accommodation provider, the onus is on the provider to ensure all activities at the property are within legal limits, including health and safety, fire, planning and building compliance.

Part of the appraisal process for a new contract includes review of the property’s services and compliance, and this done in conjunction with the Local Authority where relevant.

Any ongoing matters relating to fire, building or planning regulations remain between the Local Authority and the provider.

My Department understands that the Local Authority is in contact with the property in relation to planning matters, and as this is a large site with various distinct areas and uses, that these matters are largely unrelated to the areas of the site contracted to the Department.

My Department is also aware of ongoing court proceedings in relation to this property, and while these matters are before the courts, the Deputy will understand that it isn’t appropriate for me to comment.

However, I can assure the Deputy that should any action be required as a result of any court proceedings, or the Local Authority’s engagement at the property, these will be addressed by my officials as appropriate.

Longer-term strategy

The State is working toward a more sustainable international protection accommodation system, and this will include moving away, over time, from over-reliance on commercial and emergency accommodation contracts. We are working to ensure that a greater proportion of accommodation is provided on State-owned land over time.

The degree of control given to the State by the creation of core supply of State-owned accommodation, of both emergency and permanent options, will increase as supply is delivered, re-establishing strategic direction over the accommodation type, location and dispersal pattern.

This work will be progressed as part of the development of a new Migration and Integration Strategy, and will shortly transfer from my Department to the Department of Justice, which move is to be completed in the coming days.

I trust this information clarifies the matter.