Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 March 2024
332. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the action he is taking to provide appropriate accommodation for people who are seeking asylum who are currently living in rented accommodation outside the International Protection Office; what access to sanitation, food, clothing, etc. is being provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11472/24]
View answerAs at 4th March 2024, 1,159 single adult males are awaiting an offer of accommodation. While demand continues to outstrip supply, particularly for single male adults, the Department is ensuring that all single adult women, families and children have been accommodated.
The Department is continuing to work intensively to source further accommodation and to follow up with those International Protection (IP) applicants awaiting an offer of accommodation, and since January 2022 has brought over 200 properties into use to accommodate those who arrive in Ireland seeking international protection. The Department publishes figures relating to IP applicants awaiting an offer of accommodation twice weekly, on the gov.ie website.
All IP applicants who present to the International Protection Office (IPO) during this period are assessed by IPAS and HSE staff for significant vulnerabilities and health issues, and prioritised for accommodation as necessary.
All arriving IP applicants who are not provided with accommodation are provided with a temporary increase of €75 to their Expense Allowance. This increases the allowance from the current rate of €38.80 per week to €113.80 a week for all eligible applicants.
Drop-in day services are provided to all non-accommodated persons who wish to avail of them. In such centres, IPapplicants can access facilities including hot showers, meals and laundry services seven days a week. The Department has arrangements in place for the provision of these services with Mendicity, Capuchin Day Centre and Tiglin at the Lighthouse. The Department is in also in regular contact with the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive, the Dublin Simon Community, Streetlink Homeless Support Outreach service and others, particularly with regard identification of particularly vulnerable individuals.
In response to the recent cold weather, the Department provided temporary shelter for International Protection (IP) applicants who had been rough sleeping. This was done at a number of locations, some of which were night-time only. The arrangements were emergency in nature and ended on Sunday, 3rd March.
