Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 November 2023
282. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is a maximum number of single IPAS applicants permitted per hotel room; if three to four men per room is considered acceptable by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51709/23]
View answerAs at 19th November, there are over 25,742 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole, compared with over 17,000 people at this time last year. The Department continues to explore all offers of accommodation for international protection applicants (IPAs) in as far as it can.
In the context of this crisis, the State is availing of all offers of accommodation made in order to address the urgent accommodation need. This includes the use of office buildings, sports facilities and tented structures.?These options are necessary in order to provide shelter to international protection arrivals and to prevent homelessness.
The Department is conscious of the need to ensure quality in all accommodation contracted, while also providing shelter and safety urgently to those who need it. In considering offers, the Department takes into account a range of factors such as accommodation suitability, rates, capacity and amenities. Every effort is being made to activate suitable accommodation offers.
IPAS works at all times to ensure accommodation capacity is utilised in the most effective manner possible. There are a variety of reasons why capacity and the actual occupancy may not be equal, including:
Where a person cannot share with another person for medical or other reasons, and there is no single occupancy room;
Where a family configuration does not match exactly the available family accommodation, and this can result in vacancies “on paper” in a particular room or apartment type accommodation; and
Where rooms are being refurbished/not available for maintenance.
Previously, there was a policy of no more than 3 people per room – no matter what the listed capacity was. This policy is no longer possible, given the acute emergency in relation to availability of accommodation.
The current requirements for properties procured under emergency legislation is: a minimum space of 4.65m² as per the Housing Act of 1966 for each Resident.
