Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 February 2024
262. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current number of hotels now in use by his Department that were functioning as visitor accommodation prior to contracting with his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9783/24]
View answer273. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of hotels that are currently providing accommodation under arrangements agreed with his Department for accommodation for international protection applicants (families) where the operation of the hotels in question are exclusively for the use of accommodation for international protection applicants; if he will provide the details on a county by county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9843/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 262 and 273 together.
There are currently over 27,000 people being accommodated by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS).
Of those over 9,800 are being accommodated in 70 hotels throughout Ireland.
Over 90% of those hotels are contracted exclusively for the accommodation of International Protection (IP) applicants and are not available for commercial bookings.
The county by county information requested is not available at this time as the Department is under intensive pressure at the moment and does not routinely compile the information requested and to do so would involve many resources of a team where the current focus is on sourcing and contracting accommodation to provide shelter and prevent homelessness. In these circumstances it is not possible to undertake this exercise.
In relation to the Deputy’s request for the number of hotels that were previously functioning as hotels prior to contracting with my Department, my officials have advised me that the information requested is not recorded in that manner and to provide it would involve many resources.
