Vol. 537 No. 2
347 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his Department intends to purchase property adjacent to Mayorstone Garda station, Limerick, currently occupied primarily by students of Limerick Institute of Technology; if so, the purpose it will be put to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15830/01]
The Reception and Integration Agency, into which the Directorate for Asylum Support Services was subsumed with effect from 2 April 2001, is responsible, inter alia, for meeting the accommodation needs of asylum seekers. Purchases of property under the asylum seeker accommodation programme are dealt with by the Office of Public Works acting on behalf of the agency. The property adjacent to Mayorstone Garda station, Limerick, has not been purchased under that programme, nor is it intended that it will be purchased.
Negotiations in respect of securing contracts for service in respect of a number of properties throughout the State to meet the accommodation needs of newly arrived asylum seekers are in progress. In line with normal practice, details of such properties are not released until such time as the arrangements in relation to them have been agreed and relevant formalities concluded.
