Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 February 2025
131. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth her Department’s plans to actively engage with communities before opening IPAS centres in their areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7761/25]
View answerToward the end of 2021, Ireland was accommodating about 7,000 people in the international protection system, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine had not yet occurred.
Our accommodation systems have needed to expand at a rapid pace over the last two years in response to a sharp increase in need, among both people fleeing the war in Ukraine, and greater numbers of people applying for international protection. We now accommodate almost 33,000 people in the international protection system, and Ireland has welcomed over 114,000 people from Ukraine since 2022.
As part of a whole of Government response, to ensure people in need were provided with shelter and support, my Department has worked tirelessly and urgently to source and develop suitable accommodation sites. That urgent response was commendable, and included a huge supportive effort from people and communities across the country.
Trends are now changing - the need for Ukraine accommodation has been reducing since 2024 and we expect that to continue. Applications for international protection increased sharply from 2022 to 2024 and there is a significant ongoing shortage of accommodation in the international protection system as a result.
The Government has set out new commitments in the Programme for Government 2025 to develop a firm and fair application system, and as part of many changes, to enable further communication and engagement with communities.
Developing new centres
The basis of applying for asylum or refugee status is fleeing war or persecution in one’s home country. As an international protection applicant, people are entitled to shelter and support under both Irish and EU law.Ireland has seen a sharp increase in numbers of people applying for international protection over recent years. We provide accommodation for nearly 33,000 people today. Since 2021, when we provided 7,000 places, this demand-led system has had to grow by over 400%.
Pressure on accommodation availability of all types in Ireland is extremely high. The Department has extended all teams to try to meet this always-growing demand, yet despite this effort, we don’t have enough capacity for all applicants, and over 3,400 people have been left without an offer of accommodation since 2023.Our current focus is on developing State-owned accommodation from a range of sources, building a sustainable system and reducing reliance on commercial providers over time. We also aim to gain for greater control over dispersal patterns and enhanced engagement with local communities and planning authorities. In the interim, there will remain a need to continue to develop emergency accommodation solutions to meet need.
As part of our current work to urgently source accommodation, the Department receives multiple offers from property owners around the country to accommodate people seeking international protection. A detailed appraisal process is undertaken, looking at planning, building, fire and other regulatory issues in the remit of the Local Authority.
The appraisal also considers the nature and standard of the accommodation. Following this appraisal, not all offers are progressed for one reason or another. At the same time, the pressure on accommodation capacity is such that many suitable offers, following the appraisal, are progressed toward opening to provide accommodation.
Engagement process The Community Engagement Team was established in late 2023 within my Department to engage directly with elected representatives, local authorities, NGOs, Community Fora, local services, An Garda Síochána and other, in advance of opening accommodation centres.
The purpose of the team is to improve the flow of information about new and existing accommodation centres into communities, to assist with integration for the people joining our communities. Extra resources have been added to this Department’s Community Engagement Team during 2024 to extend our reach and impact.
When a decision is made by my Department to accommodate people at a new centre, the team then works to engage with and provide detailed information to the local community, in advance of the centre opening. They will give the full details of the property including the contracted capacity, resident profile and details about how the centre will be managed.
The team can also attend meetings for dialogue with local representatives and groups, providing background information, answering questions and listening to people's views, and helping to activate or support location partnerships where relevant to support accommodation openings.
The team also supports information sharing through a dedicated email service for queries from local groups about new and existing centres.Supporting 125 openings Between October 2023 and October 2024, the Community Engagement Team has worked through the openings of over 125 IPAS and Ukraine accommodation centres. Some of these have involved a simple sharing of information through the relevant channels, while others have involved more detailed meetings with local community groups, local officials, public representatives and other key stakeholders.
There have been many consistent examples of meaningful and productive engagement, and service providers and elected representatives around the country demonstrate ongoing support for our work and for our residents.
Making the Department’s work better understood, providing information when needed, and being available to meet or speak with local representatives has assisted with the successful initiation of many centres.
In relation to larger State-owned sites, the model of engagement has been developed to plan for more meaningful dialogue to support these larger centres, particularly those on state-owned lands being developed under Government policy to move away from dependence on commercial providers.
Challenges There are also instances over recent years where accommodation centres have had to open at very short notice to the community, due to the urgent need to accommodate people arriving and to reduce the risk of people being unaccommodated.
At other times, instances of very serious security threats to people and IPAS centres can influence the level of engagement and the time available to engage before a centre opens. I and my Department have a duty to protect the privacy and safety of all international protection applicants, and this is part of our decision-making at all times.
Undoubtedly, one of the most commonly raised requests from local groups and service providers is for more information, as early as possible, to allow for preparation and to enable dialogue and local awareness.
Overall, it's important to note that we have over 320 accommodation centres in Ireland, we open new centres regularly as needed, and most of these open and operate with the support of the community, with dialogue and engagement, and thanks to the co-operation of the people in the area, IPAS and centre management, local public services of all sectors, and residents and advocates.
Future Plans As part of the Programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland’s Future, there is a commitment to expand the Community Engagement Team to provide for detailed discussions with communities and to plan more effectively for delivery of increased public services.
An extended community engagement and information programme is being planned for 2025 and beyond. This will see more staff added to the team, and a dual approach to local engagement, based on new Government commitments and feedback from partners and representatives locally and nationally.This programme will aim to respond to the desire for local dialogue and longer-term engagement, and also preserve the safety and privacy of residents and centres. It will focus on hearing the experiences and views of community representatives, continuing to provide essential information on new centres as they open.
This work will be progressed as part of the development of a new Migration and Integration Strategy, and will shortly transfer from my Department to the Department of Justice, which move is expected to move forward in the coming weeks.
I trust this information clarifies the matter.
