Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 March 2023
32. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason for the delay in payments to those providing accommodation for asylum seekers; his plans to ensure that these payments going forward are made in a prompt manner to ensure that these providers do not decide to remove the provision of their accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15774/23]
View answerDeputy, I can confirm that there are no delays in payment to International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) providers who provide accommodation to international protection applicants/asylum seekers.
My Department has no information to suggest that any provider is removing the provision of their accommodation due to a failure to enure prompt payment.
In relation to payments to providers of accommodation to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection, the unprecedented demand for accommodation and by association the level of transactions involved is significant. With over 750 contractors paid monthly, the payments process is an operation of considerable scale.
The Department is obliged to ensure that invoices are correct and, while some are straightforward, many require queries to the provider and additional documentation to confirm what is owed.
I acknowledge that due to the quantum involved, some providers are experiencing delays in receiving payment. My Department is mindful of the impact and has been proactive in implementing a number measures to substantially reduce the backlog.
The number of staff in this area has been doubled since the start of the year, these additional resources are making a difference and payments made to date in March have totalled €120 million which represents a significant increase on previous months.
