Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 November 2023
423. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth who IPAS have contracted for the management and operation of International Protection Services at Kilbride Army Camp, Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49503/23]
View answer426. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if management at Kilbride International Protection Centre have informed IPAS in writing of potential health issues or potential medical requirements at the centre due to the refusal of food by residents seeking to highlight their situation to management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49506/23]
View answer427. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth with regard to Kilbride International Protection Accommodation Centre, to report on how many men are currently at the camp and how long they have been there; how much funding has been received to date by the management company at Kilbride International Protection Accommodation Centre; where responsibility lies for the provision of transport, onsite medical services, mental health services and does he feel they are adequately provided at the site; to outline the pathway for residents at Kilbride International Protection Centre and when residents there can expect transfer to a more suitable facility; what staffing levels he is aware of and what roles and services are undertaken by the contractor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49507/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 423, 426 and 427 together.
As the Deputy is aware, Ireland and many other European countries are experiencing a significant increase of people seeking international protection (IP). Last year, over 15,000 people arrived in Ireland seeking accommodation, while their applications for international protection are processed by the International Protection Office (IPO). Over the period 2017-2019 an average of 3,500 people applied for protection each year, averaging 67 people per week.
The State has a legal obligation to assess the claims of those who seek refuge and in that time to provide accommodation and supports in line with the Recast Reception Conditions Directive (SI 230 of 2018).
The arrival numbers remain significantly elevated. In the first forty-four weeks of 2023, nearly 9,600 people have arrived in Ireland seeking accommodation from the State, averaging 218 people per week – which is more than triple the average from 2017-2019.
As at 5th October 2023, there are over 25,200 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole compared with over 16,000 people at this time last year.
Contractual arrangements for (IPAS) accommodation centres are deemed confidential and commercially sensitive. It would not serve the public interest to divulge costs provided to contractors for its services, as it could prejudice the Department's negotiating position to deliver value for money with respect to other accommodation providers and locations.
On the afternoon of Friday November 3rd , IPAS became aware of a protest which took place between November 1st and 3rd at the Kilbride Army Camp Accommodation Centre in Co. Wicklow.
The protest consisted of a small group of residents who were requesting immediate transfer from Kilbride to a less rural location. The residents also complained of a number of issues with the conditions at Kilbride Army Camp.
The current occupancy of Kilbride Army Camp is 120. The average length of stay is approximately five months. There are currently forty-two residents who have been in situ since 20/05/23, the longest consecutive duration of stay of any resident of Kilbride.
IPAS immediately arranged for both the Customer Service and Resident Welfare Teams to attend the centre and conduct a joint clinic to speak with concerned residents on November 7th . Advanced notice of this visit was issued to the centre so that residents could ensure they were present to speak with IPAS.
IPAS staff spoke to residents at length about the ongoing accommodation crisis.
A number of issues were identified within the accommodation centre, which IPAS committed to working with centre management to seek improvements urgently.
IPAS will be following-up with centre management urgently and consistently for the coming weeks to provide solutions to issues raised by residents in so far as possible, and have committed to conducting another clinic in the next two weeks to provide an update to residents.
