Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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347. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to provide own-door accommodation for persons that are particularly vulnerable in the context of international protection applications, such as pregnant persons, persons with a disability, and so on. [22635/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) provides accommodation and reception conditions for people applying for international protection in Ireland.

IPAS is currently accommodating over 33,000 people in over 320 centres nationwide, about 9,000 of whom are children with their families.

In accordance with S.I. No. 230 of 2018, European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018, a 'recipient with special reception needs' means a recipient who is vulnerable and who has been assessed as such, in accordance with Regulation 8.

Regulation 8 states that a vulnerable person includes a reference to a person who is a minor, an unaccompanied minor, a person with a disability, an elderly person, a pregnant woman, a single parent of a minor, a victim of human trafficking, a person with a serious illness, a person with a mental disorder, and a person who has been subjected to torture, rape or other form of serious psychological, physical or sexual violence.

Vulnerability assessments are carried out for all families on application, and the programme will be extended to other groups in the near future. All single male applicants are triaged for vulnerability on application.

The majority of vulnerabilities as specified above and any needs that people may have as a result can be addressed in IPAS accommodation centres, in conjunction with local medical or support services.

Where own-door properties are available within the IPAS portfolio of accommodation, the IPAS Resident Welfare Team considers persons and families with complex needs who meet one or more of the categories of special reception needs. These needs are identified either through the vulnerability assessment or via representations from medical and other services with and on behalf of the families.

It should be noted that many of the own-door properties are not adapted for persons with accessibility needs and it is necessary for IPAS to identify suitable accommodation from within its portfolio of accommodation centres.

The 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 CAS.

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.