Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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1281. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality in light of the recent violent disruption outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Dublin (Citywest Hotel) and the serious implications for accommodation, public order and community confidence, the current national and regional accommodation capacity figures for asylum seekers and pending decisions, broken down by county; the criteria used to select accommodation sites and the consultation process with local authorities and communities; the additional supports (financial, policing, integration programmes) are being provided to the host communities in counties such as Cork; and what steps are in place to prevent similar unrest in future. [58420/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Providing reception conditions – accommodation and other basic supports – to people seeking international protection is part of Irish and EU law. People are entitled to accommodation for the duration of their applications for international protection.

The State is providing accommodation to almost 33,000 people who have applied for international protection, and over 9,000 of these are children. Accommodation is provided in 318 centres nationwide.

It is a priority for my Department to have recommendations made on all international protection applications as soon as possible. This gives status to those who are entitled to international protection to rebuild their lives here, while also ensuring faster decision making in respect of those who do not meet the criteria.

In relation to accommodation centres, since 2024, once an IPAS accommodation centre is in operation, IPAS has not published details of the specific locations, resident profile, capacity or occupancy of our accommodation centres. However, IPAS publishes weekly statistics in relation to international protection applicants accommodated by IPAS. This includes a per county breakdown of where IP applicants are residing

These statistics are located at: www.gov.ie/en/international-protection-accommodation-services-ipas/publications/facts-and-figures/

In relation to accommodation offers, the Department receives such offers from external providers and does not predetermine their geographical location. All offers of accommodation are reviewed by the Department under a standard appraisal procedure.

Factors in the appraisal of IPAS accommodation include the site and its potential, the value for money it offers, planning matters and any works required to meet the required standards. Consideration is also given to the location and locality in relation to access to services, resident welfare, health and wellbeing, and the current level of need in the sector.

The Community Engagement Team (CET) was established in late 2023 to engage directly with elected representatives, local authorities, community members and service providers, in advance of a new centre opening. This process is active around the time of a decision to open a new centre, and ensures that the local community have access to information and can prepare for new arrivals.

In terms of supports for local communities, the Department funds Local Authority Integration Teams in each county, with staff members who provide information and integration supports in each city or county council area.

The Department also manages and oversees a range of funds aimed at communities, including the 2025 Integration Fund which supports organisations to carry out integration projects at a national, regional or local level. Organisations eligible to apply include local community groups, charities, faith-based groups, formal and informal schools and cultural organisations. This fund and its predecessors have provided close to €10m in funding to over 1,000 projects across the country, including Cork.