John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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861. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he intends to continue using a building (details supplied) as an IPAS centre, or if it will return to providing accommodation for individuals fleeing domestic abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23424/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Reception conditions – accommodation and other basic supports – to international protection applicants is a requirement 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 approximately 33,000 people who have applied for international protection in Ireland, over 9000 of whom are children with their families.

The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) provides accommodation in 325 centres around the country. Since 2021, when we provided 7,000 places, this demand-led system has had to grow by over 400%.

Our current focus is on developing State-owned international protection accommodation from a range of sources, building a sustainable system and reducing reliance on commercial providers over time. In the interim, there will remain a need to continue to develop emergency accommodation solutions to meet need.

With respect to contract renewals, the provision of accommodation for international protection applicants is demand-led, and each premises is considered on a case by case basis to decide if the contract will be renewed as it approaches its end date.

The Department is at the renewal stage of the contract at this centre and is working with an accommodation provider towards updating the contract. Part of this process involves review of any relevant matters, including planning and building regulations in conjunction with the Local Authority where this is relevant.

My officials are working toward updating the contract at this site, pending assurance that all planning and regulatory matters are in order, and to continue providing international protection accommodation at this location.

Contractual arrangements for the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres are confidential and commercially sensitive.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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862. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he intends to continue using a building (details supplied) as an IPAS centre, or if it will return to providing emergency homeless accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23425/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Following the Transfer of Functions on 1 May 2025, my Department is responsible for providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine who request it, in line with Government policy.

This supports people who benefit from Temporary Protection to make longer term independent arrangements if they decide to remain in Ireland for the duration of the Temporary Protection Directive.

The property to which the Deputy refers is in contract with my Department to provide emergency temporary accommodation for people fleeing the war in Ukraine, and not for people seeking international protection.

My Department does not comment on individual properties or contractual arrangements due to the commercially sensitive nature of such details. Once a contract has ended, the future use of the property is a commercial decision for the accommodation provider.

Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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864. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 118 of 29 April 2025 and following the transfer of Integration to his Department if he will review the contract singed to provide international protection accommodation at a location (details supplied) in light of the concerns expressed by the local community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23438/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, it was recently announced that 98 beds for families seeking international protection will be provided with accommodation at the Merriman Hotel in Kinvara. The property was previously used to house people who were beneficiaries of the Temporary Protection Directive due to the war in Ukraine and was also used as an International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation centre prior to 2022.

My Department's Community Engagement Team (CET) was set up to engage directly with elected representatives, relevant Local Authorities, Local Development Companies, and other entities and individuals. The purpose of the team is to improve the flow of information regarding arrivals into areas and to help equip local communities with the accurate information required to help them understand the current situation.

When a contract has been agreed with a provider, the CET issues a full Briefing Note to elected representatives and key stakeholders including the Department of Health and the Department of Education, to advise them that IPAS intends to commence use of a property to provide temporary shelter for people seeking international protection.

In this respect, detailed information was sent to all local elected representatives and key stakeholders on 18 March about the use of the Merriman to accommodate people seeking international protection.

On 27 March, the CET met with local elected representatives at their request. At the request of local community representatives and local elected representatives, the Community Engagement Team organised a meeting with community representatives on 31 March which was postponed at their request. The meeting was rescheduled to 9 April and went ahead. The Community Engagement Team has been in regular contract with local representatives and groups, including the meetings mentioned, personal contacts and ongoing correspondence.

Having engaged extensively with the community, my Department will now progress providing refuge to families at this location. In terms of the people from Ukraine who remain at the property, they will stay at the Merriman for the time being, and in the longer term may be provided with alternative Ukraine accommodation. More information will be provided to these residents in due course.

One of the queries raised during community engagement in Kinvara was the agreement to not contract IPAS accommodation in a given town’s only operating hotel. This agreement was based on not accepting a new contract that would take a town’s last hotel out of public use for events, holiday or business stays, and day to day use by the town for food, socialising or leisure.

In the case of the Merriman Hotel in Kinvara, I am advised that this hotel has not been in public use since the COVID-19 pandemic, and as such has not been providing a hotel facility in this community.