Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 March 2023
177. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the alternative accommodation that has been sourced to accommodate beneficiaries of temporary protection and applicants for international protection to replace accommodation capacity provided by County Clare hotels that will not be renewing their contracts with the Government beyond March 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11808/23]
View answerMy Department is now accommodating in excess of 76,000 people, including both those fleeing the war in Ukraine and those seeking International Protection. We have contracted in excess of 43,000 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 720 settings including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings.
The Government decision of 28 October 2022 agreed that a move from an emergency response to a more mainstreamed approach is appropriate in light of the high numbers of arrivals, both those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine and those seeking asylum. The high level of demand requires us to maximise all existing capacity, to bring greater consistency and to ensure equity for all who rely on State supports. This includes taking account of the level of income supports being provided by the State in addition to accommodation and access to a range of State services. The decision involved moving to a more standard offer of accommodation, with more Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection utilising existing state income supports or income from employment to pay for their own food and day-to-day expenses.
To give effect to the Government decision, my Department is in ongoing negotiations, as contracts expire, with a significant number of hotels who have previously been accommodating Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPS) on a full board basis.
The Department will continue to work with accommodation providers to ensure there is an adequate supply of accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection fleeing the war in Ukraine. In this regard we are currently renewing contracts with our existing providers in chronological order.
We are also working urgently across Government and with agencies, NGOs and Local Authorities to bring new accommodation on board so that the State’s humanitarian responsibilities can continue to be met. In this regard, my Department is availing of all suitable offers of accommodation made to it, including the use of hotels, office buildings, and sports centres, to address the accommodation shortfall.
In respect of the above Government decision, it should be noted that regular meetings have taken place between my officials and the relevant Department and Fáilte Ireland officials to share learnings and discuss issues as we continue to respond to the challenge of procuring enough accommodation to meet demand. My Department is grateful to the support of those in this sector in responding to date to this unprecedented challenge. Communities across the country have welcomed those from Ukraine during their time of need and this is very much appreciated.
My Department is also very aware of the concerns shared by some communities around the absence of tourists in some areas with the consequent impact on local spending. To respond to these and other issues, we continue to work alongside both Fáilte Ireland and the Department of Tourism as we work together as part of a whole of government response, ensuring that key stakeholders have had the opportunity to feed into solutions under development.
I also wish to advise that, as part of the whole of Government response to the increased arrivals, the State is also committed to delivering accommodation solutions beyond tourist accommodation. For example my Department is working with the Department of Housing to deliver accommodation in certain refurbished buildings. The Department of Housing has made a call for unoccupied homes to be made available for BOTPs, and we are working with OPW on the rapid build homes programme. This work will continue.
Furthermore, in light of the acute and growing pressures, the Government is stepping up action to maximise the pace and scale of delivery on the accommodation strategy. An Accommodation Working Group has been established to support the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the OPW in the agile delivery of accommodation required.
An expanded programme of work has now been agreed by Government that will allow consideration of commercial properties and sites for development, refurbishment or purchase and the use of alternative modular buildings.
This work will be progressed by all of the State actors working together as part of the Accommodation Working Group and a National Coordination Unit will be established in the Local Government Management Agency to ensure delivery on the expanded workstream at local level.
Work is also ongoing across Government to intensify Communications and Community Engagement on the humanitarian response.
The government will continue to keep its response to all aspects of this humanitarian crisis, in particular accommodation options, under continuous review.
