Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 February 2024
261. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what research is undertaken in relation to the cost to tourism of the use of hotels, guest houses, or bed and breakfasts to accommodate asylum seekers, Ukrainians and residents in direct provision for each of the past five years. [8510/24]
View answerIreland is now accommodating over 102,000 people between those fleeing Ukraine and International Protection (IP) applicants.
Under the Recast Reception Conditions Directive (SI 230 of 2018), the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is legally required to provide accommodation to IP applicants who seek it while their claim for international protection is being determined.
Department officials are working to bring more bed spaces into use. For context, at the end of January 2022 IPAS had 8,300 bed spaces in use; it now has approximately 26,000 beds in use. This does not account for further beds that had been provided to IP applicants in the interim in hotels that have since returned these beds to tourism.
This is a nationwide urgent situation and emergency centres have been opened in all parts of the country. The accommodation of International Protection (IP) applicants is a demand-led process with applicants arriving in the country and seeking accommodation spontaneously. The Department is presently utilising a wide range of accommodation options to provide shelter to record numbers of IP applicants, over 200 accommodation locations utilised since January 2022 across 26 counties.
In relation to procuring accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTP), frequent meetings take place between DCEDIY officials and the Department of Tourism and Fáilte Ireland officials to share learnings and discuss issues as we continue to respond to the challenge of procuring accommodation for BOTP and IP applicants.
The Government is focused on how to continue the sustained support for those fleeing the war in Ukraine, including those already here, as well as those likely to be further displaced by the ongoing conflict. As part of this, the Government agreed that a move from an emergency response to a more mainstreamed approach is appropriate, including through a reduced reliance on serviced accommodation, along with the development of other sources of accommodation such as refurbished properties, rapid builds and modular accommodation as part of the all of Government response to this humanitarian crisis, and the unprecedented numbers of people seeking asylum and refuge in Ireland.
The Development of a revised approach for the provision of additional accommodation for IP applicants is at a very advanced stage. Discussions are continuing between the Government parties with a view to bringing a final plan to Cabinet within weeks. Additionally, Department officials are engaging across Government via the interdepartmental Accommodation Working Group, led by the Department of An Taoiseach on this issue and it is hoped that this approach will, over time, help to reduce the reliance on tourism accommodation.
