Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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1937. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will carry out an investigation into the procurement process involved within his Departments decision to enter into a contract for IPAS accommodation with a hotel (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20777/25]

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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1938. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if her Department will carry out an investigation into the procurement process involved within his Departments decision to enter into a contract for IPAS accommodation with a hotel (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20778/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1937 and 1938 together.

My Department is 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.

The accommodation centre at Dundrum House Hotel, Co Tipperary, has been providing accommodation under contract to my Department since 2022, initially for over 270 people fleeing the war in Ukraine. It has also been accommodating just over 50 international protection applicants for the past nine months.

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 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.

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.

These aim of community engagement is to improve the flow of information regarding arrivals into an area. They also help the local community understand the current situation and to assist with the welcome and integration process for new arrivals. The Department also works closely with a number of other government Departments and Non-Governmental Organisations to provide a wide range of supports to help new arrivals to integrate into an area as quickly as possible.

On 15 April 2025 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.

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.

The 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.

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 appraisal process, we confirm if an offer has come from someone with the appropriate authority.

In terms of the contract in this case, while the registered company named on the contract is a newly established entity, the offer met the requirements set out by the Department, and it is part of a wider commercial group that has experience in working with the Department to provide international protection accommodation.

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, in conjunction with the Local Authority where relevant. Any matters relating to fire, building or planning regulations are between the Local Authority and a provider, and the Department will liaise with the Local Authority and comply with any relevant enforcement matters that may arise at an accommodation centre.

Contractual arrangements for IPAS centres are confidential and commercially sensitive, however the Department publishes quarterly reports on all payments over €20,000. These reports are available online at www.gov.ie/en/collection/dfdadb-department-of-children-and-youth-affairs-purchase-orders-for-20000-o/.

Our Department is working hard toward developing a more stable and sustainable accommodation system in this sector. Huge efforts are underway to source and bring into use suitable longer-term international protection accommodation facilities, in line with the Government’s Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy.

These include the use of State-owned land for emergency tented, prefabricated and modular units, conversion of commercial buildings, and targeted purchasing of turnkey properties. They will also include the design and building of new Reception and Integration Centres and upgrading of IPAS Centres. This will be supplemented, as required, by high standard commercial providers.

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.