Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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316. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality in tabular form the number of no shows at each stage of the international protection system in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28345/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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It is a central priority for me as Minister for Justice that our immigrations laws are robust and enforced.

There has been a significant increase in investment into the international protection system which, combined with digitisation and process reengineering, has facilitated a major increase in processing capacity.

It is my intention to continue to ramp up investment in the end-to-end international protection process to speed up decision making. This will support reaching key targets, including making 25,000 decisions in the IPO in 2025 and to increase the number of appeals at the IPAT completed over the course of 2025.

Applicants for international protection may not present for their personal interview for a number of reasons. This can include being unwell, extreme weather situations and other challenges. When an applicant provides a medical certificate or a reasonable explanation within three working days of the missed interview, a new date for their interview is arranged. In situations when no medical certificate or reasonable reason are forthcoming, the applicant’s case is considered as potentially non-cooperative; this involves applicants’ applications being assessed on the basis of the information that is on the file at the time that they become subject to the non-cooperation provision.

When an appellant does not attend their scheduled IPAT hearing, a communication issues to them and their Legal Representative advising that they have a timeframe of 3 days in which to engage with the Tribunal or else the appeal will be marked for withdrawal. If a response is received within the 3 days the assigned Tribunal Member will consider if the explanation is acceptable to proceed. Where there is no contact the Tribunal issues a notification letter advising the appeal is deemed withdrawn.

Information recorded in this regard is not stored in a manner which allows detailed data to be extracted along the lines sought by the Deputy.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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317. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he has carried out any review of the suitability of a premises (details supplied) to provide IPAS accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28348/25]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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318. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to outline each step of the process of adjudicating the suitability of a company to provide IPAS accommodation; how this is determined if the company has been newly formed and has no previous track record in the provision of such accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28349/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 317 and 318 together.

The company details provided relate to the provider of accommodation services at Dundrum House IPAS Accommodation Centre.

Accommodation has been provided at this property for people from Ukraine since 2022, and for international protection applicants since 2024. A new contract commenced at the property in April 2025 to provide international protection accommodation for up to 277 people.

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.

A variety of factors are used to appraise an offer of a property, such as compliance with planning and building regulations, site suitability, the value for money it offers, and any works required to meet the required 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.

In terms of the contract in this case, the registered company named on the contract is a newly established entity that fully met the requirements set out by the Department.

The company is part of a wider commercial group that has experience in working with the Department to provide international protection accommodation.

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.

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, and this done in conjunction with the Local Authority where relevant.

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

Detailed 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 Gov.ie here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/collections/department-of-children-equality-disability-integration-and-youth-purchase-orders-for-20000-or-above/.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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319. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to provide details for each incident in the past five years where a company that had not had previous track record in the provision of asylum accommodation was a given contract to do so including the amount which they were paid in their first contract, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28350/25]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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320. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of IPAS accommodation centres that are located in residential houses with less than five bedrooms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28351/25]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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321. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the details of all IPAS accommodation contracts that were terminated in the past five years and the reason for the termination, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28352/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 319, 320 and 321 together.

Providing reception conditions to international protection applicants is part of Irish and EU law.

The State is currently accommodating almost 33,000 people in over 320 international protection accommodation centres around the country. At the moment, over 90% of accommodation capacity is provided through commercial providers. Oversight processes are in place at all stages of the appraisal, contracting, and contract management process.

My 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 Irish Tax Clearance Certificate.

Part of the appraisal process is to confirm whether an offer has come from someone with the appropriate authority. Offers of accommodation can be made by a property owner, or another person who has authority do so, such as a leaseholder.

Contracts detail the industry standards required, providers are made aware of their obligations and must agree to the extensive requirements set out in agreements.

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 requirements, including health and safety, fire, planning and building compliance. Emergency accommodation centres are subject to inspections and compliance checks during the lifetime of the contract.

Data on accommodation centres is recorded by resident capacity rather than by bedroom number, but almost all IPAS emergency accommodation centres are located in larger properties, like former hotels, guesthouses, commercial and institutional buildings, rather than residential houses.

A small number of properties, approximately 10, are contracted to IPAS to provide accommodation in communities for residents with specific needs or higher support needs.

The table below details numbers of contracts terminated in the last 5 years:

Data regarding previous provision of accommodation services is not collated in the manner specifically requested. Part of the appraisal process includes examining the detail of any track record of experience in the sector, provision of similar services or previous contracts awarded, but this process does not act so as to exclude new providers from entering the sector.

Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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322. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to establish a fund to protect and establish 2500 hectares, and acres, of native woodlands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28021/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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My Department launched a new €1.3bn Forestry Programme in 2023 with an annual budget that can facilitate the planting of up to 8,000ha of new forests annually. The Afforestation Scheme, within the new Forestry Programme, offers landowners a choice of 12 Forest Types, covering a broad range of planting options. These include, for example, Native Woodland, Continuous Cover Forestry and Emergent Forests. Forest Type 3 ‘Forests on Public Lands’ has also been specifically created to encourage the planting of new native woodlands on suitable publicly owned bare land. I am pleased to advise that over 1038 Ha of native woodlands under FT1 (Native Forests) has been established to date under this Forestry Programme.

A 20% broadleaf species component is mandatory for all mixed forest types, including Sitka spruce, thus supporting increased biodiversity and habitat linkages. In addition, the annual broadleaf target for the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 has increased from 30% to 50% of total annual planting. This is reflected in a substantial increase of 66% in premium rates for the establishment of a native forest with €1,103 per hectare available to plant native forests and €1,142 per hectare payable for native forests for water over a period of 15 or 20 years. A Native Tree Area Scheme was also introduced to facilitate small-scale tree planting and does not require an afforestation licence. It offers premiums of up to €2,284 for 10 years.

The Forestry Programme also includes financial support for the protection of existing native woodlands. The Native Woodland Conservation (NWC) Scheme, offered through the Forestry Programme provides financial support to eligible private and public forest owners for the appropriate restoration, conservation, and enhancement of existing native woodland for sustainable forest management. This measure has been developed and implemented in partnership with Woodlands of Ireland, the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS), the Heritage Council, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and other native woodland stakeholders. Increased grants of €6,000 per hectare for restoration and enhancement works have been introduced, along with an increased Payment for Ecosystems Services of €500 per hectare, paid over seven years.

I am hopeful that the attractive and increased rates and supports under the Forestry Programme will encourage uptake of both afforestation and forest conservation measures. I am committed to working with all stakeholders to achieve lasting benefits from forestry not just for climate change, but for biodiversity, wood production, economic development and quality of life.