Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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858. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of IPAS centres that have no fire doors and no fire alarms. [48016/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The Department receives offers of international protection accommodation on an ongoing basis from external commercial providers. All offers are reviewed by the Department under a standardised appraisal procedure.

Factors in the appraisal of international protection accommodation include the site and its potential, the value for money it offers, planning and building regulations, any works required to meet the required standards.

Consideration is also given to the location in relation to access to services, resident welfare, health and wellbeing, and the current level of need in the sector. Part of the appraisal process for a new contract includes review of the property’s services and planning compliance, and this is verified with the Local Authority as relevant.

While the specific data requested is not available, correct Fire Safety certification in line with the relevant Local Authority requirements is a priority aspect of the appraisal progress and is mandatory for the continuation of any contract for accommodation for international protection applicants.

In all instances where the Department enters into a contract with an accommodation provider, the onus remains on the provider to ensure all activities at the property are within legal limits, including health and safety, fire, planning and building compliance.

International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres are also subject to rigorous inspection and oversight.

Centres are contractually obliged to be maintained to National Standards, with independent inspection and quality control through either Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) or IPAS-commissioned inspections.

HIQA inspection reports can be found on the HIQA website:

www.hiqa.ie/reports-and-publications/inspection-reports

IPAS also carries out unannounced inspection compliance visits which ensure adherence to established IPAS policies, procedures, and standards, by the contracted service provider.

Reports of IPAS inspections are available online here:

www.gov.ie/en/international-protection-accommodation-services-ipas/publications/ipas-inspection-reports/

For each centre which is not fully compliant across all standards, a bespoke compliance plan is agreed with the service provider.