Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 3 Oct 2000

Vol. 523 No. 1

Written Answers. - Departmental Properties.

Michael Creed

Question:

461 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Finance the number of properties bought by Office of Public Works for the accommodation of refugees and asylum seekers; the exact location of each of these centres; the number of refugees accommodated therein or proposed to be accommodated therein; and the price paid in respect of each property. [19718/00]

Michael Creed

Question:

462 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Finance the number of properties leased by Office of Public Works for the accommodation of refugees and asylum seekers; the exact location of each of these centres; the number of refugees accommodated therein or proposed to be accommodated therein; and the price paid in respect of each property. [19733/00]

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Mr. Cullen):

I propose to take Question Nos. 461 and 462 together.

My office sourced accommodation on behalf of the Department of Foreign Affairs for the provision of accommodation for Kosovar refugees invited here in 1999. In addition, my office sources suitable accommodation to meet the requirements of the asylum seekers accommodation programme, on behalf of the directorate for asylum support services.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is currently facilitating a repatriation programme for the Kosovar refugees. As a result of this programme, the level of their accommodation needs has declined. At this stage of the programme, the Department of Foreign Affairs, in conjunction with my office, is currently reviewing the best accommodation options for the 119 Kosovars currently remaining.

Three properties were purchased to accommodate the Kosovar refugees:

Property	Location	Capacity	Purchase Price
Atlas House	Tralee	121	£1,450,000
Atlas House	Killarney	100	£1,681,000, including furniture and fittings
Park Lodge	Killarney	59	£1,520,000

The following properties were leased to accommodate the Kosovars:

Property	Location	Capacity	Lease
Ursuline Convent and Birchwood House	Waterford	210	£80,010 p.m.
Drishane Castle	Millstreet,Co. Cork	63	£24,637.50 p.m.
Presentation Convent	Crosshaven,Co. Cork	52	£75,000 per annum
Presentation Convent	Dungarvan,Co. Waterford	97	£394,200 per annum
North Gate Apartments	Cork	57	£6,960 p.m.
Rathcoran House	Baltinglass,Co. Wicklow	50	£22,812.50 p.m.

The following property was assigned to my office by the Department of Defence:

Property	Location	Capacity
Magee Barracks	Kildare	81 mobiles were purchased at a cost of £481,219 with a capacity of 290

Four properties to date have been purchased to meet the requirements of the asylum seeker accommodation programme:

Property	Location	Capacity	Purchase Price
Parnell West Hotel	Dublin 1	115	£2,425,000
Devereaux Hotel	Wexford	100	£1,950,000
Ionad Folláin	Myshall,Co. Carlow	50	£1,050,000
Broc House	Dublin 4	100	£7,250,000

The occupancy levels vary according to ongoing accommodation requirements. Sixty one asylum seekers are currently accommodated in the Parnell West Hotel. The accommodation at the Devereaux Hotel, Ionad Folláin, Broc House and Lynch's Lodge is currently being prepared for asylum seekers.

The following property was leased to accommodate asylum seekers:

Property	Location	Capacity	Lease
Havisham House	Rochestown,Co. Cork	69	£300,000 per annum

Havisham House is yet to be occupied and its use in this regard is being reviewed by the directorate of asylum support services – DASS – in the light of accommodation requirements in the southern region. Decisions regarding occupancy levels and the timeframes for occupying acquired properties are a matter for DASS.