Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2023
502. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether his Department is accepting proposals for accommodation related to the temporary protection directive or international protection, where the proposal is causing displacement of students from student accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32255/23]
View answerIreland has responded to the largest displacement of people on the European continent since the Second World War. Since February 2022, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has worked extensively to accommodate over 85,000 arrivals fleeing the war in Ukraine, of which 63,000 have sought accommodation from this Department.
Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe for all those who require it remains immensely challenging. Due to the urgent need to source accommodation, the Department has contracted in excess of 49,000 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 800 settings including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings.
The Department has contracted more than 5,000 student accommodation beds at various locations nationwide for use during the summer months. A strategy to leverage these beds in the most effective way throughout the summer is being implemented. They will be used to accommodate BOTPs:
where existing accommodation contracts are ending
newly arriving into the State
The Department has commenced using these accommodations and a number of them are at full capacity. Best efforts are made by the Department to relocate BOTPs to accommodation close to their current location but this is not always possible due to availability. At the end of the summer, universities and colleges will open again for students and BOTPs will move to another short-term accommodation.
Some additional temporary student accommodation beds will also come into use on a phased basis to accommodate International Protection applicants – these are in addition to the 5,000+ beds for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. At the end of the summer, these beds will revert to the provider.
In terms of the longer-term contracting of accommodation that has been used by students, I am conscious of the potential impact on the student population. Both I and Minister Harris and our respective officials have been in regular contact on the matter.
