Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 November 2018
255. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the rationale for and detail of the tender process and decision making in relation to the leasing of a hotel (details supplied) in County Wicklow as a direct provision centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47899/18]
View answerIn January and again in September of this year, the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department published a call for expressions of interest in the national press for premises to meet the increasing demand for accommodation for persons in the protection process (asylum seekers).
This call sought expressions of interest from parties who may be interested in providing accommodation and related services on an urgent and emergency basis. This was issued in response to the urgent and unforeseen demand for accommodation and related services from those persons arriving in the state seeking international protection.
The advertisement sought expressions of interest from providers for premises including Hotels, Hostels and Guesthouses that could accommodate a minimum capacity of 50 persons and should be reasonably close to services such as shops, school, transport, etc.
The criteria against which the Department assessed the offers of accommodation were availability, standard of property, ability to provide communal social spaces for residents, ability to cater at mealtimes and proximity to various other services.
To date, three premises have been identified from the most recent call for expressions of interest, as the most appropriate facilities to provide accommodation services to meet the emergency needs of persons entering the state who are seeking international protection and require accommodation. One of those three premises is the Grand Hotel in Wicklow.
It should be noted that these premises were offered voluntarily to the Department by individual contractors across the country; the locations involved reflect that fact, rather than any specific choice made by the Department.
As with every other accommodation centre in the country, my Department works closely with the HSE, the Departments of Education & Skills and Employment Affairs and Social Protection and all other relevant Government Departments and Agencies to coordinate the delivery of State services to residents.
I would like to note that the centre in Wicklow is opening on an emergency and time-limited basis.
In order to meet the accommodation needs in the longer term, the Department has recently commenced a public procurement exercise under which public tenders for the provision of accommodation and ancillary services to persons in the protection process, by way of the independent living model, will be advertised. This process is scheduled to continue throughout 2019 and is due for completion in 2020. This will be delivered via a series of regional competitions to cover the entire State.
