Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 November 2019
255. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the completion of the upgrade works and signing of the contract by an organisation (details supplied) for a direct provision centre; when the contract will be signed; when the upgrade works will be completed; and the other tenders in place for the Dublin region for the provision of accommodation services for asylum seekers. [47285/19]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that my Department advertised a tender competition in September 2018 for suitable premises within 40km of Newbridge, Co. Kildare for accommodation and ancillary services for international protection applicants.
Successful bidders were required to undertake mobilisation works to provide for cooking facilities for residents, a foodhall (where residents can procure ingredients and food items as well as toiletries and household items through a points system) and to provide designated living space for families outside of the bedrooms. A period of 12 weeks was permitted for the completion of any required mobilisation works prior to the inspection of the premises by staff of the International Protection Accommodation Service of my Department (formerly known as the Reception and Integration Agency). Successful bidders were advised that no contract would enter into effect until the mobilisation works were completed and the premises inspected.
The provider of premises at the Towers Centre in Clondalkin, Dublin 22 was successful in being placed on the tender framework. The owner of the premises was advised that the 12 week mobilisation period commenced on 11 April 2019, which required all works to be complete by the 4 July 2019. The contractor has subsequently advised this Department that the same premises were to be entered into the Regional Tender competition for Dublin where a longer contract duration (5 years plus 2 years extension by mutual agreement) is on offer compared to the contract duration under the Newbridge contract (2 years plus 2 years extension by mutual agreement). The contractor has indicated that they will not complete the mobilisation works until the results of their tender for the Dublin Region is known.
The competition for the Dublin Region is currently under assessment and it is anticipated that the results will be known in January 2020.
In the meantime, the premises continues to operate as an accommodation centre under the terms of an earlier contract.
