Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 November 2020
541. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the inquiries his Department has carried out at a location (details supplied) in County Louth to ascertain its suitability as direct provision accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34600/20]
View answerThe State has a legal obligation to provide accommodation and other services for International Protection applicants who are not in a position to provide for themselves.
My Department does not select a particular area or location for accommodation centres. Rather, we tender publically on eTenders (the State’s public tendering site) and also advertise nationally for expressions of interest, as the Department has a duty to utilise public funds to provide the best value to the State.
I can confirm that my Department has not made any enquiries regarding the location referred to by the Deputy and is not pursuing it as an accommodation centre.
