Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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186. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason his Department continues to operate an International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) contract at a hotel (details supplied) despite the High Court quashing the section 5 planning exemption that underpinned its use; if his Department respects the role and decisions of the courts; the action he will take as a result of this court agreement to ensure that the State is not engaging with an unauthorised development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68283/25]

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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187. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if a hotel (details supplied) has full insurance for IPAS accommodation given most commercial insurance policies have exclusions including unauthorised use and in view of the fact that this is now an unauthorised use of this hotel; if the hotel is fully insured and is not opening the State up to unnecessary risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68284/25]

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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188. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the legal advice his Department has received regarding the continuation of the IPAS contract (details supplied) in the absence of planning permission and the recent decision of the High Court quashing the section 5 in respect of the building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68285/25]

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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190. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he has been informed of the unauthorised wastewater treatment systems operating at a hotel (details supplied) and the ongoing pollution of the Multeen river, a Natura 2000 special area of conservation; if he is satisfied that a State contract is leading to the pollution of a special area of conservation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68287/25]

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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191. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if environmental compliance formed part of the due diligence process before awarding the IPAS contract for a hotel (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68288/25]

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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192. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will make the fire safety certificates in respect of an IPAS centre (details supplied) available for viewing by Tipperary public representatives who have serious concerns regarding the absence of all required fire safety certificates in respect of a property (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68289/25]

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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193. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality is aware that no lease agreement exists between a company (details supplied) the property owner of a hotel and another company the operator contracted under the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS); the legal basis that exists for continuing to house IPAS residents at this property in circumstances where the operator has been described in High Court proceedings as “trespassing”; if he will confirm the presence of a lease agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68290/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 186, 187, 188, 190, 191, 192 and 193 together.

The accommodation centre at Dundrum House, Co Tipperary, has been providing accommodation under contract to the Department since 2022, for people fleeing the war in Ukraine and people applying for international protection.

I am advised that Dundrum House Hotel ceased operating as a hotel a decade ago, in 2015. The golf course and other businesses remained in operation over recent years during the use of the site for State accommodation. I understand that they have closed quite recently in connection with a commercial dispute to which my Department is not a party.

Some areas of this property have been contracted to provide State-supported accommodation for people from Ukraine since 2022 and to international protection applicants since 2024.

In relation to the most recent contract with the Department, while detailed contractual information is considered confidential and commercially sensitive, a lot of information has been shared with local elected representatives and stakeholders in relation to this process.

The contract was agreed in April 2025, following a detailed appraisal and due diligence process. This includes checks on the provider, and a review of the compliance with building and other regulatory matters overseen by the Local Authority. All matters relating to fire, building or planning regulations at an IPAS accommodation centre are between the Local Authority and the property owner or provider.

As part of all appraisals, the Department requires confirmation, issued by the Local Authority, that the property's use as international protection accommodation is covered by the conditions of the Planning and Development Act and relevant exemptions for this purpose.

Confirmation of this planning exemption was provided to this Department as part of its appraisal for this accommodation contract.

Tipperary County Council have acknowledged within court proceedings over recent months that the granting of a planning exemption to the property in January 2025 had an administrative flaw in the process. On 17 November 2025 the Court made final orders in this matter.

The accommodation provider at Dundrum House has made a new application to the local authority for confirmation of the planning exemption and this is currently with An Coimisiún Pleanála for review.

The Department is now actively reviewing the implication of these matters in the context of the existing contract, and the nearly 200 people and families who are accommodated at Dundrum House at this time.

I will ensure that the Deputy and all other local elected representatives are kept informed of any updates or developments in this matter.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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189. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will commit to an independent review of how IPAS contracts are awarded, including compliance checks on planning and environmental law; the number of contracts that have been rescinded by his Department; the details of the contacts; the reason for rescinding the contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68286/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The Department continues to take action across all aspects of the international protection accommodation system to improve value for money, strengthen governance and compliance, and renegotiate contracts with providers.

Applications for international protection this year have reduced, and this has supported our work to put in place greater controls over the IPAS accommodation portfolio.

A range of updated systems and procedures have already been put in place and are already having an impact. IPAS has put improved processes in place for appraisal, validation, contracting and payments.

A new rate-card pricing structure is being applied to all new or renewing contracts and has already provided savings of over €59m since May 2025.

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.

A dedicated team appraises each offer to accommodate people seeking international protection, and the Department carries out due diligence on the provider who is offering the accommodation service.

This includes checks on the provider offering the service to the Department via the Companies Registration Office (CRO) to ensure compliance with CRO requirements.

Providers must be registered in Ireland. Providers may be part of wider commercial groups and may also be operating in other EU member states, in line with EU principles of free movement of goods, services, and works.

Since 2024, each new or renewing provider of accommodation services must provide a declaration of their personal circumstances. This declaration, which must be notarised, confirms that they are tax compliant, free of any convictions for corruption, fraud or being a member of a criminal organisation. It also confirms that they are solvent and have no history of failing to meet terms of public service contracts, among other requirements.

In relation to contracts ending, IPAS regularly engages with centres to ensure compliance with contracts and standards, with a dual eye on safety and welfare of residents, while also ensuring value for money and compliance by providers. So far in 2025 there have been 22 notifications of terminations of contracts, and while the Department treats all contractual matters as confidential and commercially sensitive, reasons for termination would include value for money, or concerns about non-compliance.

There is full transparency from the Department in terms of providers receiving payments, with details of all payments over €20,000 and the recipients published quarterly online at Gov.ie here:

www.gov.ie/en/collection/dfdadb-department-of-children-and-youth-affairs-purchase-orders-for-20000-o/.

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/.

This work forms part of an overall reform of the International Protection system that is already working to speed up processing of applications and to reduce reliance on commercial provision in favour of more State-owned accommodation.