Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 December 2018
264. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of direct provision centres that offer self-service cooking facilities for residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53870/18]
View answerFollowing on from recommendations 4.75 and 4.87 contained in the McMahon Report, the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department has worked with contractors to introduce cooking facilities into accommodation centres within their portfolio.
To date, the following centres have introduced independent living where residents are provided with food ingredients and have access to cooking facilities in order for them to prepare their own meals:
|
Accommodation Centre |
Contracted Capacity |
|
Athlone, Co. Westmeath |
300 |
|
Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo |
245 |
|
Bridgewater, Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary |
161 |
|
Carroll Village, Dundalk, Co. Louth |
74 |
|
Clonakilty, Co. Cork |
108 |
|
Davis Lane, Mallow, Co. Cork |
52 |
|
Atlantic Lodge, Kenmare, Co. Kerry |
98 |
|
Millstreet, Co. Cork |
284 |
|
St. Patrick's , Co. Monaghan |
175 |
|
Mosney |
600 |
|
Total |
2,097 |
In addition to the above, a number of centres provide cooking facilities for residents who provide their own ingredients. The centres who provide this are:
|
Accommodation Centre |
Contracted Capacity |
|
Atlantic View, Tramore, Co. Waterford |
82 |
|
Eglinton, Salthill, Co. Galway |
210 |
|
Great Western, Galway City |
162 |
|
Hazel Hotel, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare |
143 |
|
Hibernian House, Abbeyleix, Co. Laois |
63 |
|
Kinsale Road, Cork |
275 |
|
Mount Trenchard, Foynes, Co. Limerick |
85 |
|
Ocean View, Tramore, Co. Waterford |
100 |
|
Total |
1,120 |
The latest statistics available show that at the 11th December 2018, there were 5,997 persons accommodated in direct provision. This means that nearly 54% of residents have access to cooking facilities and 35% access to the independent living model where residents are provided ingredients and access to cooking facilities.
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. Under this competition, all successful bids must provide residents with the option of preparing their own meals as part of their proposal.
