Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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815. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if, in connection with the State's use, acquisition or operation of a centre (details supplied), any issues have arisen regarding access rights, legal title, easements, wayleaves, licences, council-owned access strips, public road status, Roads Act procedures, or Section 183 disposals relating to lands or roads serving the campus; if so, to provide details of any such issues, including the public bodies involved, the nature of the concern, and the current status of its resolution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39449/26]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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816. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality whether the Office of Public Works (OPW) has carried out, commissioned, received or relied upon any due diligence concerning title, mapping, access arrangements, easements, wayleaves, road status, Section 183 procedures, Roads Act compliance, or land transfers in relation to a centre (details supplied) since 1 January 2023; whether any records, reports or correspondence exist between the OPW and South Dublin County Council, his Department, the Chief State Solicitor's Office, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, or any other public authority concerning access roads, verges, service corridors, or council-owned lands serving the campus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39450/26]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 815 and 816 together.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) to date, has had no involvement with the Citywest Hotel and the Convention Centre campus.

Furthermore, I can confirm that there have been no issues raised with my department regarding access rights, legal title, easements, wayleaves, licences, council-owned access strips, public road status, Roads Act procedures, or Section 183 disposals relating to lands purchased at the site.

Ireland provides accommodation and other basic supports to people seeking international protection, as is required by law.

The purchase of the site is a key part of the Government’s strategy to develop a stable and sustainable accommodation system for people seeking international protection by moving away from commercial properties to State-owned centres.

Developing more State-owned options will assist in reducing the current degree of reliance on commercial provision in this sector. The purchase of the Citywest Hotel and Convention Centre in 2025 was an important step in this strategy, and increased State-owned beds to 4,000 in 2025, compared to 900 in early 2024.

The new International Protection Bill 2026 gives effect to the measures of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact and was passed into law last month. The new rules will take effect on 12 June 2026 and my department continues to prepare in advance of this date. Reforming and speeding up processing of applications should also serve over time to reduce the scale of the demand for international protection accommodation.

The Act represents the most significant reform of Irish asylum laws in the history of the State. It will put in place a new framework to manage migration and asylum for the long term.

It will improve decision-making structures within the international protection system and provide faster timelines for the processing of international protection applications. The overall objective of the Bill is to provide a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure.