International Protection

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022

Thursday, 8 September 2022

Questions (1218)

Michael Ring

Question:

1218. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department or any organisation acting on behalf of his Department purchased property in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42446/22]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

As the Deputy 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.

The new approach will end congregated and institutional living and will focus on supporting integration from day one.

Significant progress has been made to establish the new accommodation model.  This work has involved working closely with the Housing Agency in the development of detailed policy advice papers including an acquisition policy, an ownership model and a funding model.  The County and City Management Association has developed and approved a Local Authority allocation key. The key allows for a distribution of applicants across the country according to population criteria.  Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) and the Housing Agency are using the allocation key to identify suitable properties for purchase for Phase Two accommodation in the community.

Since January of this year the Housing Agency on behalf of DCEDIY have sourced and purchased a range of properties across the country. This includes a property in Westport. Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, this property is currently being used to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTP). The property and residents are being fully supported by a NGO.