Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 January 2023
1001. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department has worked to identify local accommodation solutions for those who are currently accommodated at an accommodation centre (details supplied) in County Louth; if he will provide an update on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1941/23]
View answerDeputy, the accommodation of international protection applicants (IPAs) is a demand-led process with applicants arriving in the country and seeking accommodation spontaneously. In 2022, over 15,000 IPAs arrived in Ireland, making it by far the highest yearly arrival figure to date. For context, the average arrival figure for IP applicants for the 3 year period from (2017 to 2019) was 3,500.
As of 9 January 2023, there are over 19,300 people accommodated in International Protection Application Services (IPAS) accommodation centres. This compares with 7,500 people accommodated at the same time last year.At the same time, Ireland has responded to the largest displacement of people on the European continent since the Second World War. Since 24 February 2022, the Department has worked to accommodate an unprecedented volume of persons seeking refuge from the invasion of Ukraine, coming to almost 55,000 people.
The pressure to accommodate almost 75,000 people in such a short period of time has led to significant shortages, particularly for the international protection cohort. The Department has been forced to avail of all offers of accommodation made, including the use of office buildings, in order to address the accommodation shortfall. While the Department is aware that some types of accommodation such as office buildings and tented solutions are less than ideal it is working hard to find solutions, through the use facilities management companies in some cases, to offer emergency food, shelter and sanitation provision to both cohorts.
With regard to Carroll Village this property was recently successful in a 2022 tender competition titled ‘Bespoke Panel Agreement for the Provision of Accommodation Services and Related Services for Persons seeking International Protection’. The apartments in Carroll Village under contract with IPAS now require renovation in order to meet the terms of the tender contract.
The renovation works are planned to commence at the end of January and the residents will be required to vacate the accommodation to facilitate the works.Furthermore, three families on site have been offered alternative accommodation and they will be transferring from Carroll Village to their new centres on Friday 3 February. IPAS is continuing to source alternative accommodation for the remaining families. It is anticipated that they will be transferred during the month of February. IPAS is in regular contact with the residents to appraise them of the situation. Finally, it should also be noted that 18 of the 22 families currently residing in Carroll Village have been granted refugee status or permission to remain in the State. IPAS continues to provide assistance through case workers in NGOs such as DePaul and Peter McVerry Trust to support their transition out of accommodation designated for international protection applicants and into accommodation into the community.
I trust this information clarifies the matter.
