Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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335. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 104 of 29 April 2025, to clarify the identity of the wider commercial group involved in the IPAS contract in question (details supplied) in order to ensure full transparency as to the beneficiaries of a contract worth €20 million of taxpayer money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22531/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, following the Transfer of Functions on 1 May 2025, the Department of Justice is now responsible for sourcing and providing accommodation for people applying for international protection.

This function forms 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 325 international protection accommodation centres around the country.

The Deputy is aware of the recent commencement of a contract to provide international protection accommodation at Dundrum House, which has been used to accommodation people fleeing the war in Ukraine since 2022, and international protection applicants since 2024.

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

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

According to 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.

Queries relating to company ownership should be directed to the Companies Registration Office.

Detailed contractual arrangements for IPAS centres are confidential and commercially sensitive, however quarterly reports on all payments over €20,000 are available online at Gov.ie.