Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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293. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the procurement processes are in place to ensure that Government contracts are not entered into with regard to properties that are not compliant (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22004/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is working with communities all over Ireland to source and provide accommodation for people applying for international protection. Over the last two years, emergency centres have been opened in all parts of the country.

Providing reception conditions to international protection applicants 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.

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

The Department will liaise with the Local Authority and comply with any relevant enforcement matters that may arise at an accommodation centre.

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 also include the design and building of new Reception and Integration Centres and upgrading of IPAS Centres. This capacity 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.