I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 121 together.
As the deputies will be aware the Government made a commitment in the Programme for Government to end the current system of accommodation for International Protection applicants and replace it with a new model that is based on a not for profit approach. As part of this process I published A White Paper to end Direct Provision and to Establish a new International Protection Support Service on 26 February 2021. This paper sets out a new approach for accommodating applicants that seek International Protection in Ireland and will replace the current system.
Since the publication of the White Paper my Department has placed a significant focus on delivering the new model of accommodation and supports. A dedicated Transition Team has been established in the Department to drive implementation of the new model. Governance structures have put in place in the form of a Programme Board which includes representation from the NGO sector and an External Advisory Committee to oversee transition to the new system. The Board has met regularly over the past 12 months to review progress.
Significant progress has been made to establish the new accommodation model. This work has involved working very closely with the Housing Agency in the development of detailed policy advice papers including an acquisition policy, an ownership model and a funding model. Proposals in relation to the ownership model were brought to the Programme Board in November 2021 and approved by myself in January 2022. In collaboration with the Housing Agency a funding model for Approved Housing Bodies has been developed to support them in building a pipeline of Phase Two accommodation. Work is ongoing to finalise the details of the model with plans to launch it later this year. To date, 14 properties have been purchased for Phase Two accommodation and work to source and acquire more properties will continue for the remainder of 2022.
The Transition Team is developing an integration programme to support the principle of ‘integration from day one’ as set out in the White Paper. In collaboration with the Local Authorities work is currently ongoing to design the supports that will be required at a local level. This includes the expansion of the current model of interagency working groups and resettlement and intercultural workers that is in place for the Irish Refugee Protection Programme and establish a permanent integration system that will provide support both to programme refugees and to applicants for international protection.
Work is also ongoing to develop an integration fund, which will fund civil society organisations to support the integration of International Protection applicants. It will launch in the coming weeks.
As will be appreciated, the war in Ukraine has had an unavoidable impact on timelines for implementation of the White Paper, as staff in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth were temporarily diverted to fulfil Ireland’s obligations including members of the White Paper Transition Team.
The Department is working diligently to manage the response to the Ukraine crisis whilst continuing to progress the aims of the White Paper. Currently a review of project timelines is being undertaken with a view to presenting a revised implementation plan to the Programme Board. This will take account of the delays that have arisen as a consequence of the Ukraine crisis and will consider its impacts on project implementation.
Notwithstanding the impact of the Ukraine crisis, the implementation of the new model is and will continue to be a key priority for my Department.
