Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
1366. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what steps are being taken to ensure that all persons in tents on Mount Street outside the International Protection Office have been provided with alternative sheltered accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37338/23]
View answerThe International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) officials and staff from the Jesuit Refugee Service visited all tents outside of the International Protection Office, Mount Street, on the 16th June 2023.
The purpose of this visit was to ensure all persons who have applied for international protection in Ireland and who were staying temporarily in the tents were informed of the offer of accommodation available to them at the City West transit hub.
All people who availed of the offer of accommodation at that time were offered transport to City West campus via minibus.
There were 66 tents on Mount Street on Friday 16th June. Many appeared unused but some were securely locked. An information note, translated into French, Arabic and Georgian, was left at each tent. The note advised the occupant that DCEDIY IPAS officials had visited and how to contact IPAS for accommodation.
IPAS visited the site on a second occasion in the company of DCC and Dublin Simon Outreach team. Further offers of accommodation were made to persons eligible for IPAS accommodation at the location, and transport was arranged for any person who accepted the offer of accommodation.
The Department continues to engage with accommodation providers to bring more accommodation into use for international protection applicants (IPAs) and had accommodated all IPAs who were previously without any accommodation offer - a total of more than 1,540 IPAs. All IPAs who have arrived in Ireland and sought accommodation are currently accommodated within IPAS accommodation.
