Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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1884. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the weekly and monthly IPAS statistic reports include homeless international protection applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20224/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The State is making every effort to accommodate asylum seekers against a backdrop of unprecedented demand from 2022 to 2024, with our system growing by over 400% in capacity in that period.

The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) releases weekly statistics in relation to international protection (IP) applicants accommodated by IPAS. This includes a per county breakdown of where IP applicants are residing and a wide range of other details. These statistics are located on the Gov.ie website: www.gov.ie/en/publication/07027-ipas-statistics/.

Due to a number of well-documented factors, my Department has not been in a position to offer International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation to every adult male seeking IP since 4 December 2023.

As of 6 April 2025, 3150 people who applied for international protection (IP) since December 2023 have not been offered accommodation. These unaccommodated applicants are not included in the statistics of people accommodated by IPAS, but regular updates on this group are also published on the gov.ie website: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-equality-disability-integration-and-youth/publications/statistics-on-international-protection-applicants-not-offered-accommodation/.

As my Department prioritises accommodation for women and children, single male applicants are most affected by this issue. A triage process is in place for single males to identify those who are most vulnerable who may need accommodation, and an enhanced expense allowance is available to those who have not been provided with accommodation.

While not all unaccommodated applicants are rough-sleeping, the Department has grant agreements in place with four homeless charities in Dublin to provide hot meals, showers, places to charge devices and rest for those who are. In addition to the extension of day services, the Department has partnered with a homeless charity to conduct outreach to identified locations where applicants are rough sleeping. When available, the Department makes offers of accommodation to eligible persons identified through this outreach.

The Government is committed to supporting all those seeking IP in Ireland and work is ongoing across the country to bring available accommodation into use to support our residents.

This work is underpinned by the Government's Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy (CAS) for people seeking IP. This aims to address the need for accommodation for people seeking IP and to build a more sustainable system for the longer term.

Accommodation in the new strategy will be 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 will be supplemented, as required, by high standard commercial providers.

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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1885. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to clarify the precise criteria that must be fulfilled by a company or an organisation before it is awarded a contract to provide international protection accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20239/25]

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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1886. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm that it is possible for a company or an organisation with no prior experience in providing accommodation services to apply for and receive a departmental contract for the provision of international protection accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20240/25]

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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1887. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm the number of companies or organisations with no prior experience in providing accommodation services that have been awarded a departmental contract for the provision of international protection accommodation; the total value of these contracts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20241/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1885, 1886 and 1887 together.

Ireland has seen a sharp increase in numbers of people applying for international protection over recent years. We provide accommodation for over 33,000 people today. Since 2021, when we provided 7,000 places, this demand-led system has had to grow by over 400%.

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.

Once an offer is received with respect to accommodation for international protection applicants, it is assessed for suitability. This includes a range of factors such as previous use of the property, accommodation suitability, rates, room sizes, capacity and amenities, information on the building's safety and fitness for occupancy, and various other criteria such as Wi-Fi, security provision and staffing.

Furthermore, all statutory requirements relating to the establishment and management of accommodation are met by the service provider, including health and safety, fire, building regulations and other requirements.

IPAS accommodation is subject to rigorous inspection and oversight, and centres are contractually obligated to be maintained to national standards, with independent inspection and quality control through HIQA or through IPAS inspections.

The Department carefully appraises each property that is offered for use as accommodation for International Protection applicants before contracts are negotiated and agreed, and properties are subject to pre-occupancy inspections to ensure they are adhering to the requisite standards. Continued adherence to agreed standards for centres are ensured via routine inspections conducted upon opening.

In all instances where the Department enters into a contract with an accommodation provider, the onus is on the provider to ensure all activities are within legal limits.

Once a centre is operating, IPAS Customer Service team conduct regular clinics at Accommodation Centres, which provides residents with an opportunity to speak with IPAS staff in confidence and voice any concerns they have regarding their accommodation. The IPAS Centre Management team conduct unannounced visits to Accommodation Centres to assess compliance with IPAS policy.

My Department's overall expenditure on international protection accommodation across State-owned and emergency accommodation was €1.005 billion in 2024. Details of individual contracts or contractual arrangements between the Department and external providers are considered commercially sensitive. In order to preserve the Department's negotiating position, the costs paid to providers, or the details of contracts are not published, as making this data available to other accommodation providers would not serve the public interest in terms of value for money.

I trust this information is helpful.