Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 March 2024
592. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the date that the contract to provide accommodation for international applicants in a hotel (details supplied) was signed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10606/24]
View answer593. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is a break clause in the contract between his Department and a hotel (details supplied); if so, the notice period for the break clause; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10607/24]
View answer594. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is a cooling off period applied to the contract between the Department and a hotel (details supplied) in Drogheda; if so, the associated cooling off dates that were included in the agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10608/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 592, 593 and 594 together.
The D Hotel had been appraised by the Ukrainian Division but rejected on the basis that an alternative offering of accommodation for beneficiaries of temporary protection was under consideration. The provider was advised that any offers not taken up by the Ukraine Division should be considered for offering to International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) for the accommodation of International Protection (IP) applicants. Consequently the IPPS appraisal process was shorter than normal and the contract to provide accommodation for IP applicants at the D Hotel was signed on 13th February 2024.
International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) contracts for accommodation do not contain a "cooling off period".
Divulging the details of contracts could prejudice the Department's negotiating position to deliver value for money with respect to other accommodation providers and locations, so further contractual information is not provided.
My Department is currently accommodating over 100,000 people between those fleeing Ukraine and International Protection (IP) applicants. This includes approximately 75,000 Ukrainian people who have sought accommodation from the State and over 27,000 IP applicants currently in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation.
Department officials are working to bring more bed spaces into use. 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.
