Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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403. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when full opening hours will resume at a facility (details supplied); when the carpark adjacent to the facility will be reopened; if he will commit to ensuring full access for members at the earliest opportunity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67562/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The Department is aware that the leisure centre at the Citywest Hotel and Convention centre complex is a valued local amenity with approximately 3,000 members.

Following the purchase of the complex, the Department contracted the current provider to oversee the management and provision of service for the gym and the existing workforce was maintained under the transitional agreement.

Due to the public disorder outside of the Citywest Hotel and Convention Centre campus, access had to be restricted to the campus for residents, staff, and members of the public accessing services including the leisure centre and restaurant. This measure was taken to protect the safety of all people who may be on the campus. Members of the leisure centre were informed about the access restrictions by the management.

Access to the Leisure Centre was restored to members on a reduced hours basis from Tuesday November 11. Current opening hours are 6am – 6pm Monday to Friday and 8am – 6pm Saturday to Sunday. Under the current measures, the Leisure Centre is open three hours longer than usual at weekends - closing one hour later, at 5pm, on Saturdays and two hours later, at 6pm, on Sundays.

Security huts have been put in place at the entrance to the Citywest campus and at various locations on site, including at the designated car park for members accessing the Leisure Centre. Additional lighting and CCTV have been put in place both in the Leisure Centre car park and along the main route through the campus.

The Department is working closely with An Garda Síochána and keeping security arrangements at the campus under review, including a possible return to previous opening hours of the Leisure Centre and parking arrangements.

While security concerns and assessments are ongoing, the Leisure Centre will operate under the current arrangements. Local public representatives and community members will be kept informed if there is any update for members and people living in the locality.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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404. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the total amount spent on leasing a facility (details supplied) for the accommodation of migrants in each of the years prior to the government's purchasing of the property. [67604/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The property to which the Deputy refers has been leased by the state since 2022 as a transit hub and accommodation centre for those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine and people seeking international protection.

Details of payments made to specific providers for specific locations are not publicly supplied by my Department as such details are commercially sensitive. However, the Deputy may wish to note that payments over €20,000 to suppliers of the Department generally, including accommodation providers, are periodically published officially. The most recent figures are published at the URL www.gov.ie/en/collection/dfdadb-department-of-children-and-youth-affairs-purchase-orders-for-20000-o/.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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405. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the amount paid for the purchase of a facility (details supplied) in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67605/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Cabinet approval for the State purchase of the Citywest Hotel and Convention Centre for international protection accommodation was secured this year on 17 June 2025 and the sale was completed in August 2025.

The full purchase price for the Citywest centre (including VAT) was €148,253,530 which is in line with the Government decision of 17 June 2025.

The purchase of the site is a key part of the Government’s strategy to develop more State-owned accommodation, building a stable and sustainable accommodation system for people seeking international protection, and reducing reliance on commercial centres.

The purchase was approved following an extensive due diligence process, including appropriate survey, legal review and independent valuation, in line with the Government Infrastructure Guidelines. These guidelines set out the value for money guidelines for the evaluation, planning and management of public investment projects, including purchase or acquisitions of assets or shareholdings, in Ireland.

Compared to the costs of the previous leasing model, the savings to the State will pay back the purchase price within 4 years.

This estimate is based on expenditure in 2024 under the previous leasing model for accommodation for people from Ukraine and international protection at this location. It also includes consideration of the ongoing running costs to the State of providing accommodation at the site after the purchase.

The purchase model represents prudent financial sense for the State in this regard, while also delivering a permanent State asset.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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406. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the amount spent on the accommodation of persons seeking international protection and refugees in each of the past fifteen years and to date in 2025. [67606/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has been unable to provide a response to this question within the prescribed timeframe. A response will issue directly to the Deputy in the coming days.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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407. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he considered how the equity of care between unaccompanied children seeking international protection and Irish resident children in the care system will be dealt with in the International Protection Bill 2025. [67618/25]

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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408. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality how unaccompanied children seeking international protection will be cared for and accommodated in the implementation of the EU Pact on migration and asylum. [67619/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 407 and 408 together.

Ireland has opted in to the EU Asylum and Migration Pact which is due to enter operation in June 2026. The Pact will provide a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure. This will be achieved through convergence in asylum practices across the EU.

The General Scheme of a new International Protection Bill to give effect to the measures of the Pact was approved by Government on 29 April 2025. As the Deputy is aware, the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration recently conducted pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme. The drafting of the Bill is well advanced. It is expected that the Bill will be published by the end of the year. Enactment of the Bill and commencement of the Act is required by 11 June 2026.

The measures of the Pact, in particular, the Reception Conditions Directive (Directive (EU) 2024/1346), the Asylum Procedures Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2024/1348), and the Asylum and Migration Management Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2024/1351) set out safeguards and procedural guarantees for unaccompanied minors in the international protection process. These requirements will be given effect in the International Protection Bill. The Bill will also provide for appropriate alignment with the Screening Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2024/1356). As required by the Pact measures, the Bill will make provision for the appointment of representatives to assist and safeguard the interests of unaccompanied minors.

My Department is working closely with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and Tusla on matters relating to unaccompanied minors in the international protection process to ensure that our national legislation and operational practices will accord with requirements under the Pact and ensure the appropriate care and protection of unaccompanied minors.